Losajait,19 September 2024 (Public Communications and Media Relations)

Turkana County Government through its department of Mineral Resources has conducted a community consent forum to pave way for investor entry seeking to exploit the rich deposits of calcite and fluoride at Losajait, Nakalale Ward in Turkana North.

The joint forum, attended by County officials, community members, and representatives of the prospective investor, emphasised the potential benefits to the locals and promise of adherence to safety standards with mineral exploration standards.

Calcite and flouride minerals are used in both the building and construction – key ingredient in cement production, chemical engineering and pharmaceuticals production, glass manufacturing, soil science and agriculture.

Speaking during the meeting, Areman Elim – the Ag. Director of Mineral resources – emphasized the importance of community involvement in the decision-making process.

“This meeting is about ensuring our community’s voice is heard and that we have a stake in the developments that affect our land and resources. We want to ensure that investments in our county bring tangible benefits to our people, particularly the artisanal miners who have been working hard under difficult conditions.” Elim stated.

He further outlined benefits for the artisanal miners including better working conditions, fair wages, access to mining equipment and repair of Nakilinga borehole to improve water supply in the area.

A representative of the prospective investor, Paul Lopiding, assured the community of their commitment to ethical mining practices and corporate social responsibility.

“We are not just here to extract resources; we are here to build a lasting partnership with the people of Turkana. Our goal is to create a win-win situation where the community prospers alongside the business,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the Artisanal miners, Simon Ekitela spoke on employment opportunity for the locals and the need for transparency in how the benefits will be distributed.

He also expressed the community’s cautious optimism, stating, “We welcome the development, but it must be done in a way that respects our land and benefits everyone”.

The County government has assured the community that their concerns will be addressed before any final agreements are signed.

A follow-up meeting will be scheduled to finalize the terms of the agreement and ensure that all stakeholders are on board.

During the engagement, operations of the local artisanal mining committee, county programs and interventions targeting to boost artisanal miners and formation of cooperatives societies were discussed.

Present during the engagement included; Hellen Nakaru (Director of Revenue) Micklam Eregae (Senior mining officer) and Eliud Nakhoel (Area Chief).