Western leaders raise red flag on gold mining in the region

Leaders from Western Kenya have raised the red flag on the mining of large deposits of gold recently found in the Lirhanda Corridor.

Led by ANC Party Leader Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya Party Leader Moses Wetangula, the leaders claim that a UK-based company called Acacia was granted these rights but it subsequently transferred the same to another company based in Tanzania.

They now want to know how the Counties of Kakamega,Vihiga, Kisumu and Siaya where the corridor stretches through as well as the Government have benefitted from the arrangement.

Either, the leaders have also challenged the Privatization Commission to shed light on talk of a possible leasing of sugar factories in Western to private investors.

In a statement, they claim, “Government ministers have publicly stated that debts in the sugar industry have been cancelled in an effort to revive the sugar industry. However, they are not availing documentary evidence with relevant instruments to confirm that debts have actually been cancelled. Why? Secondly, if indeed debts have been cancelled, why is there still a receiver manager in Mumias Sugar Company?”

The leaders under Western Kenya Solidarity Movement also acknowledged that the country is under a great strain as COVID-19 pandemic numbers continues to spread and claim the lives of fellow Kenyans.

“In the light of this grim scenario and after broad consultations, we have suspended our outreach programmes which involved scheduled meetings in the western region,” they said.

And in the spirit of containing the COVID-19 spread, they have challenged other leaders to put the lives of Kenyans first by emulating their stance.

“We believe that it is through honest, transparent, accountable and people-driven governance processes that we shall achieve equitable development in which the life of every Kenyan, community and family matters,” they said.