January 30, 2024 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

A team of Geologists from the State Department for Mining has arrived in Turkana to commence a twenty-one days minerals exploration and geological mapping of sites across the County.

At a courtesy call meeting with the Director for Mining, the team led by Martin Nyakinye said that the exercise will focus on Gold and other precious stones of economic value.

The exercise commences on Thursday 1st February 2024.

“We are aware that artisanal miners have already identified some sites and are even exploiting the minerals at Naduat, Makutano, and Lolupe areas. The exercise will avail detailed geological mapping and avail the report to the County Government,” he said.

Mr. Nyakinye acknowledged that Coitan, an essential mineral for the manufacture of mobile phones was in parts of Turkana South, Central, and East as recently published by a section of the media in Kenya.

The director for Mining Stanley Loter told the team that the County Government had invested in capacity building and equipping of the artisanal miners.

The director welcomed the move by the state department and called for further capacity building on the formation of mining group associations and market linkages.