Devki pledges compliance with law as Kishushe Ranch grants consent for Iron Ore mining

Devki Group of Companies has pledged to strictly adhere to the law and prioritize local interests after shareholders of the Kishushe Ranching Cooperative Society Limited granted the investor consent to proceed with iron ore mining in Taita Taveta County.

The commitment was made on Saturday during a Special General Meeting (SGM) of the cooperative held in Kishushe, convened to resolve longstanding disputes surrounding mining activities at the ranch and to formally seek members’ approval for Devki to continue operations.

The meeting followed a series of engagements between the ranch leadership, led by chairperson Matilda Waleghwa and secretary Wilfred Mwalimo, and the Ministry of Mining, after complaints emerged over the presence of investors operating on the ranch without the consent of shareholders.

Addressing the shareholders, Devki chairman Narendra Raval said his company would operate strictly within the law and work with both the community and the government to ensure mining translates into tangible benefits for local residents.

“I am with you. I will be with you. We will follow the law and we will remove this poverty,” Raval assured shareholders.

Raval praised the new leadership of Kishushe Ranch and the Ministry of Mining for what he described as swift intervention that helped defuse a dispute that had threatened to stall mining activities in the iron ore-rich area.

He said past attempts to invest in Taita Taveta had been frustrated by political interference, forcing him to relocate a factory that was initially planned for the county to Samburu.

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“There was a lot of politics. Everyone who came across was against the investment. Some came asking for money, with others asking for as low as Ksh1,000, while those in leadership could ask up to a million shillings,” Raval said, adding that the Samburu factory now employs about 2,800 people, jobs that could have benefited Taita Taveta residents.

He said Devki is currently constructing an industry worth more than Ksh11 billion in Taita Taveta and urged leaders and residents to shun divisive politics and the politicization of development.

“Bad politics is what is disturbing our county. There is nothing else,” he said, warning that failure to exploit available minerals would deny the community economic value.

Raval said Devki directly employs about 18,000 people in Kenya and another 7,000 across Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda, with plans to expand its workforce to 41,000 employees across East Africa by the end of 2027.

“There is not even a single person in the whole of Africa, in the private sector, employing 41,000 people. I will be the only one,” he said.

He added that although he initially had no intention of putting up a factory in Taita Taveta, he reconsidered following a personal appeal by President William Ruto.

“It is because of the respect of the President that I decided to put this factory here,” Raval said, noting that the current ranch leadership had also demonstrated focus and goodwill.

Mining Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai, who officiated at the SGM, welcomed Devki’s pledge to comply with the law, particularly on local content requirements covering employment and procurement. He said the government would closely monitor compliance to ensure the community benefits from mining activities.

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Kimtai lauded the leadership of Kishushe Ranch, saying it had restored order and credibility to the cooperative. He revealed that when he assumed office, the ranch was listed among cooperatives with leadership challenges, but said this would now change.

“After engaging with the current leadership and confirming that there is good leadership, I will delete Kishushe from the list of ranches that were flagged as having challenges,” he said.

The PS said his visit to Kishushe followed an issue that had escalated to the Office of the President, highlighting the sensitivity and importance of mining investments in the area. He noted that while the President continues to court foreign investors, he had also encouraged established local investors such as Raval to invest in counties like Taita Taveta.

Despite its semi-arid climate, Kimtai said, Taita Taveta is endowed with rich mineral resources that can transform livelihoods if properly managed. He described Kishushe as a model ranch whose approach to engagement and governance could be emulated elsewhere.

PS Kimtai stressed that public participation was a constitutional requirement and explained that even after productive meetings with the ranch board in Nairobi, it was necessary to engage shareholders directly before any agreement with an investor could be finalized.

“Whatever agreement is entered into must reflect the will of the people,” he said.

He assured residents that the Ministry of Mining and Blue Economy, under Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho, would intervene whenever disputes arise between investors and communities. “Whenever there is an issue between the investor and the community, as a ministry we shall be at the forefront to ensure that the issue is resolved,” Kimtai said.

The PS raised concerns over infrastructure and social services, citing poor roads leading to the mining area and the need for clean and reliable water supply to cushion residents from the effects of increased mining activity.

He warned that investors who had operated for years without meeting their obligations to host communities would be compelled to comply with the law, including remitting the required one per cent of revenues to community development.

He also announced stricter enforcement of mining regulations, including mapping and licensing of artisanal miners, and reiterated that mining companies must adhere to Community Development Agreement timelines.

The SGM was attended by Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime, Deputy Governor Christine Kilalo, Wundanyi MP Danson Mwashako, Voi MP Abdi Chome, Mwatate MP Peter Shake, area MCA Newton Kifuso and other investors.

By Michael Oduor

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