By Caroline Katana
As Kenya mark World Environment Day, Kwale County is once again at the centre of debate over how natural resources are governed, as concerns intensify over mining transparency, environmental justice and shrinking civic space for community voices.
On the eve of World Environment Day, environmental defenders, civil society actors, community leaders, and government officials used a county forum to press for urgent reforms in how mining and environmental decisions are made along the Coast.
At the heart of the discussions supported under the Haki Ni Yetu and funded by Finland’s Kios Foundation was a shared warning: without stronger safeguards, climate pressures and extractive activities could deepen inequality and environmental harm in already vulnerable coastal communities.
Executive Director of InformAction, Winnie Masai, painted a troubling picture of environmental stress across Kwale and Kilifi counties, linking worsening climate conditions to unregulated extraction activities.
She highlighted drought, water scarcity, sand mining, marine ecosystem destruction, and unsustainable mineral extraction as interconnected crises affecting livelihoods in the region.
Executive Director of InformAction, Winnie Masai
Masai drew attention to growing public concern around mineral-rich areas such as Mrima Hill, where speculation over rare earth minerals has raised questions about transparency and public participation.
She urged stronger accountability systems in resource governance and early involvement of communities in decision-making processes.
“The urgency now is to ensure transparency, early public participation, and systems that protect both people and the environment, adding that environmental defenders also require stronger protection given rising risks linked to their work,” She said .
Grassroots human rights defenders warned that community members who raise environmental concerns often face intimidation rather than engagement.
Speaking on behalf of the Kinango Human Rights Network, Kalinga Idd said environmental complaints frequently result in legal action against activists instead of meaningful dialogue.
He cited cases where by environmental defenders have been charged with offences such as disturbance or assault after protests or complaints.
Kinango Human Rights Network official, Kalinga Idd
“In many instances, those who raise concerns end up in court instead of being heard,” he said.
He also referenced a long-running case that began in 2020 involving community members who were later convicted and sentenced, describing it as part of a wider pattern that discourages civic participation.
Idd stressed that environmental defenders are not opposed to development, but are demanding fairness in how decisions are made.
“We are not against investment. We are against injustice and exclusion,” he said.
Concerns also emerged over the increasing use of online platforms to target environmental defenders.
Environmental Rights Organization (erog ) coordinator Fardosa Mustapha warned that activists are increasingly exposed to harassment across social media platforms and community messaging groups.
She noted that such attacks are not only from members of the public but also, at times, linked to actors within institutions and the private sector.
Environmental Rights Organization (erog ) coordinator, Fardosa Mustapha
“Online spaces have become another front where environmental defenders are attacked and discredited,” she said.
Mustapha emphasized that environmental advocacy should not be misinterpreted as opposition to development, but as a demand for lawful and responsible investment.
From the government side, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Kwale office urged collaboration between communities and regulators in addressing environmental challenges.
Senior NEMA environmental officer, Duncan Okoth said the World Environment Day theme aligns with global calls for urgent climate action under the broader “climate crisis and solutions” agenda.
He described the forum as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen environmental awareness and public participation in environmental governance.
Senior NEMA environmental officer, Duncan Okoth
“Environmental protection is not the responsibility of government alone. It requires collective action,” he said.
Okoth also stated that NEMA remains open to scrutiny and feedback from the public, adding that such engagement improves regulatory effectiveness.
On concerns surrounding alleged mining activity in Mrima Hill, he said the authority had not received Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) documents or formal approvals indicating active extraction or prospecting.
Kwale Mining Alliance coordinator, Elsheba Okech raised concerns over inconsistent communication from leadership regarding mining developments in the region.
She said conflicting public statements were creating confusion among communities about the status of mineral exploration projects.
Kwale Mining Alliance coordinator, Elsheba Okech
“Communities are being left uncertain because of mixed messaging on mining activities, calling for clearer and more consistent communication from authorities,” She said.
Okech noted that recent engagements with government officials indicated that no investor had been formally confirmed for certain contested mining sites.
Creative advocacy also featured in the discussions, with One Million Trees for Kilifi founder Elfic Tosi, highlighting how storytelling through film has helped document environmental harm.
He said visual documentation has revealed concerns such as water contamination, air pollution, and broader ecological disruption linked to extractive activities.
He also pointed to the social impacts of mining-related blasting, which communities say has affected vulnerable groups in surrounding areas.
One Million Trees for Kilifi founder, Elfic Tosi
“Communities live with the daily consequences of environmental degradation, and their voices must be central in shaping solutions,” He said.
Closing the forum, representatives linked to the Haki Ni Yetu initiative, including project manager Malkilina Nyandieka, called for stronger collaboration among grassroots organisations.
She said the initiative is working with local groups such as the Kinango Human Rights Network and erog to strengthen environmental justice advocacy at community level.
“Our focus is to ensure community voices are amplified in environmental and climate justice discussions,” she said.
The discussions in Kwale reflect a growing tension between resource extraction, environmental protection, and community rights along Kenya’s Coast.
As Kenya commemorates World Environment Day , calls are growing louder for transparency in mining governance, stronger safeguards for environmental defenders, and meaningful public participation in decisions shaping the region’s future.
