By Shaban Omar
The Kenya Navy, in partnership with Base Titanium, took part in environmental conservation by planting 10,000 trees at the mining company’s site in Kwale County.
The exercise was led by 100 Kenya Navy personnel on the slopes of the company’s central dune that is currently under rehabilitation process.
Colonel Benson Karuimbo said the initiative is part of a tree planting campaign under the Environmental Soldier Program launched in preparation for the Kenya Navy’s 60th Anniversary celebrations scheduled for December.
He said the effort aligns with the Government’s National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration program, which has set an ambitious target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
“The Kenya Navy is committed to joining hands with the rest of Kenyans to fight climate change and to preserve Kenya’s natural ecosystems and ensure a safe environment,” he said.
Karuimbo said apart from maritime security, the Kenya Navy remains determined to combat deforestation, soil erosion, and desertification, while promoting reforestation, enhancing biodiversity and sustainable land use.
He said that the tree-planting event symbolizes a shared responsibility for all Kenyans to protect the environment and promote environmental stewardship for future generations.
The colonel also stressed the critical importance of environmental conservation, emphasizing that it fosters prosperity and ensures good health for all living and non-living elements of the ecosystem.
Base Titanium, External Affairs General Manager Simon Wall and Kenya Navy’s Colonel Benson Karuimbo lead other soldiers in a tree planting exercise at Base Titanium
He said a degraded environment threatens the entire humanity and development calling the urgent need for collective action.
Base Titanium’s External Affairs General Manager, Simon Wall, commended the Kenya Navy’s efforts in supporting environmental restoration and rehabilitation, describing it as a positive step towards sustainable development.
Wall reaffirmed the company’s commitment to restoring mined-out areas, ensuring they are left in better condition than before extraction.
“Our goal is to rehabilitate the land to a state that supports biodiversity and community use,” he said.
A Kenya Navy personnel plants a tree at the Kwale Mine site in Msambweni, Kwale County
He revealed that significant progress has been made, with a large portion of the land fully rehabilitated and the final section currently at 75 percent completion.
Wall said the restoration process involves meticulous steps such as refilling, levelling, planting grass, and reforesting with trees.
“We are thoroughly reshaping and reforming the land by returning topsoil, planting grass, and growing trees to ensure the ecosystem is restored,” he said.
Wall revealed that several prospecting licence applications are currently in progress, with one recently approved to allow the company to conduct exploration in Kwale, aiming to discover additional mineral deposits.
He mentioned that efforts to raise awareness and engage with the local community are ongoing, with hopes for a positive outcome.
However, Wall said that the exploration activities will not affect the company’s decision to close operations in December.
He added that determining the commercial viability of any mineral deposits could take several years, making time a critical factor.
Wall said any discoveries made would be considered for future mining opportunities.
He said that, as time passes, the company has been steadily preparing its workers for the impending closure.
The External Affairs General Manager explained that the company is providing psychological and socioeconomic support, including skills development and certification programs, to help workers transition and seek new opportunities after the mine closes.
Base Company primarily specializes in mining mineral sands, including zircon, rutile, and ilmenite.
The minerals are integral to the production of a wide range of everyday products, such as paint pigments, refractory materials, titanium metal used in aerospace and joint replacements, as well as in the manufacturing of tiles.
