Mining CS Dan Kazungu at a past event. [Photo/the-star.co.ke]
With the Tiomin Mining agreement between the Kenyan government and a Canadian company slowly becoming a hot political topic, Mining Cabinet Secretary Dan Kazungu has come to the defense of Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya.
Mvurya has been on the receiving end in the past few days after political rival Chirau Ali Mwakwere accused him of colluding with foreign companies to benefit from the local resource.However, Kazungu defended Mvurya saying that the opposition has politicized the matter in order to tarnish the Governor's name. “Spare Mvurya on this mineral licence propaganda since he has no power to issue a licence or sign one. I am the only person authorised to deal with such things," he said, as quoted by The Star.While outlining the government plan to ensure that local communities benefit from the mineral resources, the CS noted that the government will introduce Mineral Rights Fund that will trickle down to the local mwananchi.“It is through the introduction of this fund that wealth from the minerals will flow back to the community and the county government, each receiving 10 per cent and 20 per cent of the revenue collected respectively,” he added.The mining company was known as Tiomin but it has changed its name to Base Titanium.