BY MANUEL ODENY

Raila’s boy Oketch Salah have been welcomed by gold miners in Macalder, Nyatike for Cooperate Social Responsibilities in the area.

Salah, unlike other gold and copper investors in the region especially Chinese investors, have taken to giving back to the community by drilling water residents demand CSR projects from gold mining investors.

Oketch has also been paid hospital bills to residents, who are mostly affected by ailments caused by hazardous materials used in the sector.

Dorah Aoko, a resident said they have been working closely other investors but most of them are only interested in mining and not giving back to the locals.

“We have been keen to work with investors who give back to the community, we have been struggling with sodium cynide poisoning on water places,” Aoko said.

Aoko said that in addition to water points, Oketch has been keen in paying SHA and ensuring residents get quality health care when needed.

William Odhil, they have said that despite the area being main source revenue in the county and a contributor to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) courtesy of mining activities, it’s residents have been wallowing in abject poverty without any development to show for.

“As residents we look forward to work with investors like Oketch who give back part of the revenue from gold mining towards elevating the community, only a few investors have done CSR projects in the area,” Odhil said.

Residents said they have benefited from clean water, better health facilities, and upgraded learning infrastructure which they now call on the gold mining investors to prioritize as part of their CSR projects for the community.

As a way of facilitating that, the residents have also requested the department of Mining and Blue economy, to ensure that those carrying out large scale mining activities have licenses and can be held accountable.