The Vice Chairman of the Artisanal and Small Scale Miners Association, Patrick Ligami, has urged the government to fund regional mining offices and deploy more staff, especially engineers and geologists to serve the sites.
Ligami, while speaking to one of the local dailies yesterday, revealed that there are fewer staff than required in the 13 gazetted mining counties across the country.
“There is a huge gap in terms of staff in all the 13 gazetted mining counties that is; Taita Taveta, Migori, Vihiga, Kakamega, Siaya, Turkana, Narok, Kitui, Uasin Gishu, Busia, Kajiado, Machakos and Kilifi Counties. The government should consider deploying more staff in the sites apart from funding them,” he said.
He revealed that there are more than 15,000 small-scale and artisanal gold miners in Kakamega County alone, with more than 300 shafts, and one shaft is operated by a minimum of eight people and a maximum of 60.
Ligami further urged the Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary (CS) Hassan Joho to prioritize operationalisation of county artisanal mining committees which struggle to operate as a result of insufficient funds.
By Vostine Ratemo
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