By Shaban Omar
Mining-affected communities, future investors, artisanal and large-scale miners have more to look forward to, after the second biggest Annual Jamvi La Madini conference was held in Kwale County.
The event was organized by Kwale Mining Alliance in collaboration with International Alert, Transparency International Kenya and Haki Madini Kenya.
The three-day conference unfolded at the Safari Beach Hotel in Msambweni and brought together all stakeholders from the six coastal counties.
The event provided a vital platform for dialogue among diverse stakeholders in the mining sector.
This year’s theme was Sustainable and Equitable Mining in Kenya “Unlocking Potential and Ensuring Transparency and Accountability.
The conference also centered on themes of community participation in the decision-making process related to mining permits, licenses, contracts, rehabilitation and post-mining Land Use.
KMA coordinator Kashi Jarmeine said Jamvi La Madini was aimed to foster meaningful engagement and action within the extractive industry in Kwale County and the coastal region at large.
For the past years, the biggest Australian Mining Company, Base Titanium has been doing sand harvesting in Kwale.
Mining activities at Base Titanium mining site in Kinondo, Kwale County
As it prepares to shut down operations in December following the exhaustion of mineral resources, mainly zutile, ilmenite and rutile, communities, Civil Society and Rights organizations are concerned about the whole process of decommissioning, rehabilitation and land ownership after mining life.
According to Jarmaine, the conference provides a platform for brainstorming ideas, capacity building and improving the community’s lives and mining activities in Kwale and beyond the coastal counties.
“Base is winding up and the whole idea of the Jamvi La Madini is to start the conversation of minerals using the bottom-up approach. We want to ensure the affected communities are effectively engaged on matters of minerals and their issues reflected in the decision-making,” he said.
KMA was launched in 2018 mainly to advocate for the environment, land, mineral and community rights.
Then the relationship between the community and Base Titanium was in limbo because of poor communication.
Jermaine said the conference presents a perfect opportunity to reflect on the challenges and achievements made in the Kwale mining sector and possible partnerships.
According to him, through multi-stakeholder engagement, KMA managed to compel Base Titanium to establish the first Community Development Agreement Committees in Kenya as required by the 2016 Mining Act.
The CDAC committees were officially gazetted in 2020 and launched in 2021.
The committees saw the communities transforming lives through development projects funded by the mineral company as part of the one per cent share of its total annual revenue.
Kwale Mining Alliance Coordinator Jermaine Kashi speaks during the second biggest Annual Jamvi La Madini in Kwale County
The Mining Act 2016 requires all mining firms to legally set aside a certain amount of money for the communities directly and indirectly affected by the mining undertakings to benefit from the mining activities.
Jarmeine said other achievement is the establishment of community information center by Base Titanium outside the Mining Company.
The information centers allowed the community to easily access information based on mineral activities, employment opportunities and development projects.
Recently, the national government launched the Post-Mining Land Use Committee.
However, the committee will oversee the implementation of the mined land as Base Titanium closes business in December.
But several activists and mining affected communities have complained that the 19 member committee chaired by Mining PS is heavily flooded by the state agencies.
According to Jermaine the Jamvi La Madini focuses on ensuring the communities are effectively involved in the PMLU committee and that their grievances are addressed.
Jamvi la Madini Conference at Safari Beach Hotel in Msambweni, Kwale County
The officer called on the respective authority to start things right for a better tomorrow.
“Let’s do things correctly, so that we leave a better blueprint that other people can follow or develop it further to improve lives and the mining sector,” he said.
Jarmaine urged the locals and stakeholders to rally behind the annual Jamvi La Madini initiative adding that it seeks to project a good cause.
He said that previously it was difficult for people to gather and discuss mineral issues, but the platform allows for smooth conversation and action.
The right defender also urged other mining companies to follow the footsteps of Base Titanium to better the mining industry.
Base Titanium External Affairs General Manager Simon Wall said Base committed to address the issues of mining affected communities and ensure they benefit from the mining activities.
Wall said as the Company prepares to close down, it is determined to rehabilitate and restore the mined out land.
He said they will prolong their stay to ensure a sustainable rehabilitation exercise.
Base Titanium External Affairs General Manager Simon Wall addresses mining stakeholders during the second biggest Annual Jamvi La Madini at Safari Beach in Msambweni, Kwale County
“We don’t expect to get everything right, but what matters is the intention and we promise to do our best to rehabilitate the used land and improve it,” he said.
Wall said many mining company are reluctant to take full responsibility of land rehabilitation once they exhaust minerals.
He, however, said Base Titanium remains determined to accomplish the land rehabilitation and restoration exercise
