The government is committed to cracking down on the illegal export of unprocessed and raw minerals, which is costing the country billions of shillings. Cabinet Secretary for Mining and the Blue Economy, Hassan Joho, emphasized the urgency of this issue and announced plans to station two mining officers at each entry point to curb these illicit activities.
Joho explained that smugglers often avoid Kenyan regulations by paying royalties to the countries where they deliver the unprocessed minerals, resulting in significant financial losses for Kenya. He stressed that Kenya has strict laws prohibiting the export of minerals without proper documentation and vowed to enforce these regulations more rigorously.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday after meeting with the Nyanza regional mining officer, Joho emphasized the need to stop the illegal export of minerals to protect the country’s revenue. He also called for fair enforcement of existing laws across the mining sector.
Additionally, Joho assured stakeholders that the payment of royalties in the mining sector would be expedited according to the law. He acknowledged the frustration of those who have waited over seven years to receive their dues and promised that such delays would no longer occur.