Kisii County Government will soon establish a new organisation that will act as a watchdog on the County’s treasured mineral industry; soapstone.
Speaking in his office during a press address on Monday the Governor James Ongwae stated that the regulator will operate at the County Parastatal headquaters.
He further explained that this was also geared towards uplifting the small-scale traders of the mineral to get market for their produce.
Supporting the move by the governor, Tabaka Ward Representative Daniel Apepo said that the current state of the soapstone industry was not in order and it needed a sector to monitor its day-to day activities.
“The owners of the quarries, their workers together with the exporters and other players in the company have not been working in order. We therefore want to create an authority that would streamline the procedures,” said the MCA
Kisii County speaker Kerosi Ondieki further supported the watchdog idea stating that it was in order for the parastatal to be set up as it would be independent but in return would be funded by the County government through the National government.
The County residents are to benefit from this parastatal as they will get training in mining and research, and get educated on the impact of the soap stone that comes in different colors.
The proposal will however only materialize if the pending Bill before the County government is passed.