The Nyanza Regional Mining Officer, Joshua Boiwo, has ordered closure of all mines along roads and all public utilities in Homabay County.
He has also ordered for immediate opening of the Nyaite-Nyawita roads in Kagan ward Rangwe Sub County after gold mining operators encroached on the road making it impassable. "Respect other people's rights," Boiwo told the miners during sensitization on mining cum public participation meeting to find the way forward on the fate of the encroached roads.
The mining official instructed the miners not to let their businesses infringe other people's rights as enshrined in the constitution He said the gold mining Nyawita was allowed contrary to mining along roads which, he said, definitely affects other people's right to movement citing children going to school as well as traders plying the route to markets. "Mining along the road to stop immediately and we want this road to be opened immediately," he said. "We cannot give license to mines along the road, we cannot give license to where people draw water: We cannot give mining license to where there is public utility," said the regional mining the officer based in Migori county and in charge of mining operations and regulations in Narok, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira and Homabay regions.
The officer said mining in Rangwe is a new development and he urged all mine operators in the area and Homabay County at large to ensure that they operate within the law and asked them to apply for small mine permits, they form cooperatives so that they are able to regulate them by issuing them with relevant permits and that they operate through the mining act cap306.
