Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho has informed that a British company had already identified Lirhanda Corridor gold mine belt in Kakamega- Vihiga and was about to start mining at the site.
This Lirhanda Corridor, is 1,200-kilometer mineral belt running through the two neighbouring counties, following years of intensive exploration and drilling that required larger amounts or resources which the government of Kenya did not have.
As per Joho, the firm had already pitched to the government on how it plans to start the mining exercise, adding that it had committed Ksh 26.8 billion to develop the mine and processing plant, a move that could make the Lirhanda project Kenya’s first large-scale underground gold industry.
CS Joho has said that all the evies, royalties, and taxes will be distributed in percentages to variuos stakeholders who will include the locals . For instance, three per cent of the gross total value of the gold would go into royalties, five per cent would be an export levy, one per cent of the gross total value of the gold would be reserved for the community, and 10 per cent of the asset would be given to the government on a free-carrying basis.
The local community would also benefit from employment opportunities and training, with the economy growing from direct investment from the firm.
Explaining why a foreign firm had to be mandated with the exercise, CS Joho expressed that the depths of the gold necessitated advanced technology and know-how, which Kenya is yet to reach.
Still, Joho assured that artisanal miners would not be touched, revealing that their own area for mining would be demarcated and that they will carry on with their normal mining activities as has been always.