The County Government in partnership with the Centre for Environment Justice & Development (CEJAD) and Solidarid East and Central Africa, is implementing a five-year program called RECLAIM Sustainability (RS), to sensitize and train miners and other stakeholders, on environmental compliance, mine site rehabilitation and other environmental best practices in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining.

CEJAD is a public interest non-governmental organization that advocates for sound management of chemicals and wastes to protect vulnerable populations in Kenya.

The County Chief Officer for Mining and Energy, David Maraka, highlighted the challenges miners face on the mine site in Turkana. CCO said the miners will soon overcome the challenges, once they become compliant with the best practices in the sector.

He lauded partners for coming in handy to support and train the miners on provisions of mine site rehabilitation guidelines and processes.

Chief Maraka urged the trainees to be compliant with the best practices and be ambassadors in training others on the guidelines and processes involved in artisanal mining.

CCO promised to meet all the miners in the course of the month. The meeting, Maraka said, will help share and document the challenges in the mining sector and later chart a way forward in a move keen to attract international investors in Turkana for the benefit of the community and County at large.

The Chief Officer pledged to continue working closely with the CEJAD & SOLIDARIDAD team for continued support to Turkana miners for the realization of the best practices & benefits associated with the exploitation of the mineral resources.

Present in the two-day training were Stanley Loter (Director of Mineral Resources), Emase Lopetet (Ag. Director Energy and Petroleum), Mickliam Eregae (Petroleum Officer) Ekiru Joseph (Chairperson Artisanal Miners), and Fredrick Otieno (CEJAD).