Saturday, September 13, 2003 MPs reject mining project By ONESMUS KILONZO and PATRICK MAYOYO
Coast MPs yesterday opposed the titanium mining project in Kwale District during a meeting with President Mwai Kibaki.
In a memorandum presented at State House, Mombasa, the legislators accused Canadian company, Tiomin Resources, of failing to involve local leaders and the people in its mining plans.
The group was led by the chairman of the Coast Parliamentary Group, Likoni MP Suleiman Shakombo. On constitutional review, the MPs told the President that the outocme of the Bomas talks should only be implemented after the life of the current Parliament.
Briefing journalists later, the CPG Secretary, Mr Lucas Maitha (Malindi), said the MPs told the President they wanted the titanium mining deal suspended and renegotiated afresh.
"We told the President that we are not happy with the deal that has been negotiated between the Canadian firm and our farmers and the sidelining of MPs in these negotiations," said Mr Maitha.
Currently, a stalemate persists concerning the Sh80,000 being offered by the firm for every acre of land being taken for mining. Residents say the amount is too little. "We want the affected farmers to be partners in the project either directly as individuals, or indirectly through their local authority," added the Malindi MP.
He said they were against the processing of titanium in Canada as that would not only deny the government a lot of revenue, but would also deny Coast people jobs and other accruing benefits.
"The MPs favour an arrangement where Tiomin establishes a processing plant in the country to add value to titanium mining and create more employment opportunities," he said.
A source at the meeting said President Kibaki promised that the Cabinet would look at all the outstanding issues on the project.
He told Environment and Natural Resources minister Newton Kulundu to take charge and ensure that the issues were resolved amicably.
Other issues discussed were the constitutional review process, the proposed Coast university and the revival of collapsed projects, including the Kwale Cashewnut factory, Mariakani Milk Processing Plant, Ramisi Sugar Factory, Kenya Meat Commission (Kibarani) as well as irrigation schmes on the Tana River.
The MPs also requested that the recommendations made by the Land Commission of Inquiry chaired by former Attorney-General Charles Njonjo be adopted and implemented to resolve land problems at the Coast.
The meeting started at 8am and ended at noon. Nearly all MPs form different parties were present. Those who did not attend, but sent apologies, were Mr Marsden Madoka (Mwatate, Kanu), Mr Mwandawiro Mghanga (Wundanyi, Ford-P), Mr Boniface Mganga (Voi, Kanu) and Mr Fahim Twaha (Lamu East, Kanu).
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