The government has announced plans to rehabilitate abandoned mining sites across the country, transforming them into valuable resources for productive use.
State Department for Mining Principal Secretary (PS) Elijah Mwangi said most of the sites which have been left open posed danger to the environment and members of the public.
The State Department, he added, has embarked on a mapping exercise to establish the locations and status of the sites across the country ahead of the rehabilitation exercise.
The PS said through partnership with other government agencies, the mines would be converted into aquaculture hubs or refilled and repurposed for agricultural use. The move was expected to breathe new life into areas affected by mining activities, offering a sustainable solution to environmental degradation and creating new economic opportunities for local communities, he added. "We are working with the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) to carry out studies on how some of these sites can be used for aquaculture," said the PS.
