Msambweni MP, Hon. Feisal Abdallah Bader Joins CS Joho, Kwale Leaders in Mrima Hill Mining Project Consultations

By Feddy Madebe

Msambweni Member of Parliament Hon. Feisal Abdallah Bader participated in high-level consultations regarding the Mrima Hill Strategic Minerals project during a meeting held at the Kenya School of Government (KSG) in Matuga.

The consultative session, convened on Friday, brought together national government officials, Kwale County leadership, and parliamentary representatives to discuss the strategic mining initiative that has attracted significant attention due to its potential economic impact on the region.

Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hon. Ali Hassan Joho, led the national government delegation alongside Principal Secretary for Mining, Mr. Harry Kimtai.

Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani was represented at the meeting by county government officials, bringing together various levels of local leadership to engage with national officials on the project’s implications for the region.

The meeting included Kwale County’s parliamentary delegation comprising Senators, the Women Representative, and Members of Parliament from various constituencies. Among those in attendance were Lunga Lunga MP Hon. Chiphoromodo, Kinango MP Gonzi Rai, and Matuga Constituency MP Hon. Kassim Tandaza.

Kwale County Assembly leadership also participated in the discussions, ensuring representation from the county’s legislative arm in deliberations about the mining project.

Mrima Hill Strategic Significance

The Mrima Hill deposit, located in Kwale County, contains rare earth minerals that are classified as strategic resources due to their applications in modern technology, renewable energy systems, and defense industries. The site has been identified as holding substantial deposits of niobium and rare earth elements.

Development of the Mrima Hill mining project has been a subject of ongoing discussions between national government agencies, county authorities, and local communities regarding benefit-sharing frameworks, environmental management, and community participation.

Governor’s Previous Opposition

Governor Achani had previously expressed strong opposition to the mining project, stating she would not allow operations to proceed. Her absence from the consultative meeting, though represented by county officials, adds complexity to the ongoing negotiations surrounding the project.

The Governor has been advocating for Kwale County’s interests in negotiations, emphasizing the need for local communities to benefit directly from resource extraction activities taking place within their territory. Her earlier resistance to the project centered on concerns about equitable benefit-sharing and environmental protection.

The consultative approach adopted for the Mrima Hill project reflects lessons learned from other mining operations in the county, particularly the Base Titanium mining project, which has operated in Kwale for over a decade.

Stakeholder Engagement

The meeting at KSG Matuga represents part of a broader stakeholder engagement process designed to ensure various interested parties have input into the project’s development framework.

Key issues typically addressed in such consultations include revenue-sharing formulas between national and county governments, employment opportunities for local residents, infrastructure development commitments, environmental protection measures, and community development initiatives.

The presence of both national and county government officials alongside parliamentary representatives indicates a multi-level governance approach to managing the strategic minerals project.

CS Joho, who previously served as Mombasa Governor before joining the national government, brings experience in managing relations between coastal counties and the national administration to his role overseeing the mining sector.

The consultative meeting comes as the government seeks to develop Kenya’s mining sector as a significant contributor to economic growth, with strategic minerals playing an increasingly important role in global supply chains for technology and clean energy systems.

Further details regarding specific outcomes or agreements reached during the consultative session have not yet been publicly disclosed by the participating officials.