MOMBASA, Kenya — The State Department for Mining has struck a new arrangement with mining companies to establish joint steering committees at national and county levels, a move officials say is aimed at curbing exploitation, improving accountability, and ensuring communities receive full compensation before any land is acquired for mineral projects.
The committees will oversee engagement between investors and residents, monitor resettlement and compensation processes, and address long-standing disputes over displacement and environmental degradation in mining zones.
Communities were urged to cooperate with licensed operators, but government officials stressed that no resident would be moved without lawful compensation.
Principal Secretary for Mining Harry Kimtai told MPs and community representatives that the ministry is fast-tracking the Mining (Mineral Royalty Sharing) Regulations to unlock Sh2.9 billion in royalties that have been held at the National Treasury since 2016 due to the absence of a legal framework.
“I was updating the joint committee that the revenue owed to counties will now be released following the passage of the revenue-sharing bill in Parliament,” Kimtai said during a meeting that brought together the National Assembly Environment, Forestry and Mining Committee, the Senate Lands, Environment and Natural Resources Committee, and mining-affected communities under the coordination of the Kenya Human Rights Commission.
He said the Treasury had instructed the ministry to tabulate pending dues to each county, adding that 10pc of royalties earmarked for host communities would be unlocked once the regulations complete public participation and are gazetted.
“All royalties collected are intact in the Consolidated Fund and will be disbursed once the legal framework is concluded,” he said.
According to the ministry, Kwale County will receive the largest allocation—Sh1.5 billion for the county government and Sh880 million for local communities—derived mainly from operations by Base Titanium.
Kimtai also reaffirmed that all mining operators must comply with environmental safeguards, including depositing Environmental Protection Bonds with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to support land rehabilitation and reduce pollution risks.
He said continued engagement with Community Development Agreement Committees would remain a priority, noting that collaboration with the Kenya Human Rights Commission would help strengthen oversight.
However, MPs cautioned that several operators continue to violate environmental and mining laws despite intensified scrutiny. National Assembly Environment, Forestry and Mining Committee Chair Charles Kamuren accused some firms of degrading livelihoods and ignoring legal requirements.
He cited a cement plant in Rabai that resumed operations without fulfilling Environmental and Social Impact Assessment conditions despite being shut down last year.
“We must crack down on unlicensed foreign-run sites and ensure full enforcement of environmental compliance,” Kamuren said, urging the government to compel companies to repair damaged infrastructure and compensate households whose land or water sources have been affected.
The committees are expected to begin work once membership is finalised, with stakeholders expressing hope that the reforms will improve transparency and restore community trust in the mining sector.
