The Chairman of the Kenya Chamber of Mines, Dr. Patrick Kanyoro, has strongly condemned recent actions taken by government officials against legitimate business operators in the mining sector. Speaking out on January 26, Kanyoro clarified the Chamber's position in light of a controversial raid by government authorities, which he says has unfairly targeted legal and law-abiding businesses.
In his statement, Dr. Kanyoro emphasized that members of the Chamber, including those involved in copper and green garnet mining, had declared their stockpiles of minerals to the government in good faith. Despite this, he voiced concerns that government representatives, including Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary officials, as well as officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), had unjustly labeled the minerals as illegal after allegedly raiding storage facilities.
"These minerals are not illegal," Kanyoro asserted, challenging the government's claims that the minerals were worth over 200 million shillings. He further explained that the actual value of the minerals in question was approximately 4 million shillings, urging government officials to seek professional counsel before making such public allegations.
The raid, which has drawn widespread attention, also resulted in the arrest of an individual with a disability who was storing the minerals. Kanyoro expressed his discontent with the arrest, emphasizing that the individual was not able to communicate effectively due to language barriers, further highlighting the unfairness of the situation.
The Chamber’s chairman also expressed concern over the potential diplomatic consequences, particularly regarding the profiling of Chinese nationals. He underscored that the global mineral trade, particularly to China, is critical for Kenya’s economy and urged the government to avoid any actions that could harm international relations.
Moreover, Kanyoro clarified legal ambiguities surrounding the possession of mineral specimens, explaining that it is not illegal for individuals to hold mineral samples in Kenya. He also defended the use of spectrometers and XRF machines, which are essential tools for analysis in the mining industry, against unwarranted criticisms.
Dr. Kanyoro called on the government to engage with the mining industry more fairly and professionally, stressing that the allegations against legitimate miners were not only damaging to the sector but also misleading to the public. The Kenya Chamber of Mines remains committed to working with the government to ensure that the mining sector operates within a framework of fairness, transparency, and respect for the rights of business owners.