Governor Charity Ngilu, together with MPs from Kitui County have sealed an agreement with the National Government and various mining stakeholders to begin extraction of minerals in the county.
The agreement was preceded by a joint communique from the leaders that adopted a common stand over mining issues in Kitui County.
The positions were endorsed by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka in an unprecedented show of unity over the county's mineral wealth.
The agreement with the National Government was captured in another communique between Ngilu and Mining and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary John Munyes in Kitui County on Tuesday.
They acknowledged that the Almighty God has blessed Kitui County with enormous mineral wealth, including coal in the Mui Basin, limestone in Ngaaie and Kanziku, iron ore in Ikutha and Kyuso, graphite in Ikanga and copper in Kwa Mutonga noting that no other county is as rich as Kitui.
They decried that the Kitui people face extreme poverty with over 64 percent of them living below the poverty line and over 80 percent of the youth population being out of school and unemployed while minerals lie underneath the surface, which can change the lives of the County residents.
The leaders acknowledged that over the years, there has not been fully exploitation of the mineral wealth in Kitui, in order to address the extreme poverty and underdevelopment in the County.
They said critical community needs such as valuation and compensation for their land, resettlement and sustenance of their lives and livelihoods, maintenance of their values and social fabric, need to be addressed meaningfully, to ensure inclusivity of community members regarding mining on their land, not acquiring it on fishy deals which are at the expense of the landowners.
Together with the Minister, they agreed to start a new, robust engagement between the County and National Government, Community Land Owners, Mining investors and all leaders of Kitui and persons of goodwill, to ensure that "we carry out mineral operations in the county through a transparent and sustainable manner."
They noted that Kitui County welcomes investors and shall work with the National Government, the communities, and other stakeholders to attract and grow sustainable investment in the mining sector in the county.
The Kitui leaders expressed their commitment to comply with the Constitution, Mining Act and all other enabling provisions of the law which have been enacted to streamline the country’s mining sector and open the gates for development; to ensure environmental conservation and sustainable development in the mining sector.
Together, they agreed to ensure public participation through continuous community engagement and sensitization of host communities in development and implementation of regulatory frameworks, which will regularize the use and management of land within Kitui County by ensuring that adjudication, registration, valuation, and titling is done with the support of the National Government.
They agreed that the government will steer the move from sale of land to leasing of land in a bid to safeguard the interests of landowners of Kitui County, ensure that interests of generations to come are taken care of, and to secure ample time for the investors to be able to realize and accomplish their mining activities.
They said that they will ensure that Community Development Agreements are signed between the large scale mining holders and the communities to guarantee that the benefits of mining are shared between the holder and the community.
The two leaders agreed they will uphold their commitment to the development of Community Development Agreement Committees, to ensure that there are continuous monitoring and evaluation of compliance with the terms of the agreement.
The agreement will provide a platform for the community to debate whether the use of revenues provided by the holder to fund programmes under the agreement.
They agreed to support artisanal mining by guaranteeing the formation of the Artisanal Mining Committees, which shall advise on the granting, renewal or revocation of artisanal mining permits, which is aimed at encouraging investors to consider having a section of the mining block granted for artisanal mining, in order to facilitate artisanal miners to aggregate into cooperatives and organizations to protect the economically weaker sections of the artisanal miners from exploitation.
They agreed to identify two concessions for coal mining within the county with the aim to leverage the extractive value chain to generate sustained and inclusive growth through economic diversification and employment opportunities for the locals.
Others present at the meeting were; Permanent Secretary Mining John Omenge, Chief Administrative Secretary Engineer John Musonic, Wiper party leader Hon Kalonzo Musyoka, Senator Enoch Kiio, Women Rep Irene Kasalu, Charles Nguna, Paul Nzengu Mboni Mwalika, Edith Nyenze, Rachael Nyamai Majority leader Peter Kilonzo, Minority Leader of the County Assembly John Kisangau, CECM Tourism Kuvasila, CECM Education David Kivoto, CECM LIHUD Engineer Kakundi, CECM Trade and Cooperatives Phillip Mumo, CECM Environment John Makau, among other leaders.