BY POLYCARP OCHIENG

Migori mining stakeholders have welcomed the gazettement of the county Artisanal Mining Committee which is mandated to issue mining licenses.

the National Chairperson of the Artisan and Small Scaler Miners Association of Kenya (ASMAK) Dan Omondi welcomed the move by saying that the gazetted Committee will help to cure some of the issues affecting the mining sector in the county.

He was speaking over the weekend in Migori town during a consultative meeting with various mining cooperative Sacco’s officials drawn from the county.

The move will help the sector invest in mining sector.

Omondi said that the gazettement of Artisanal Mining Committees will be a long-term reform strategy that will help to improve inter-governmental collaborations in the mining sector.

The AMC members drawn from the two levels of government, the National Environment Management Authority (Nema), Mining Department, Artisanal miners and security agencies amongst others will play a fundamental role in advising and offering guidance to the representatives of the Director of Mines on granting, renewing and revoking artisanal miner’s permits.

Migori County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Trade, Tourism and Cooperatives Betty Samburu praised the Migori Artisanal and Small Scale Miners for forming Sacco’s to champion their collective mining agendas.

Samburu said that the county government was committed to ensuring that the county mining sector improves to generate income for the miners, and revenue for the county and national government.