President William Ruto has dismissed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s claims that his administration is planning to hand Kenya’s mineral wealth to American companies, telling a journalist at State House in Mombasa to raise other issues.
Ruto was responding to questions about Gachagua’s recent criticism of plans to exploit niobium and rare earth deposits at Mrima Hill in Kwale County.
“Usiniletee maneno ya mtu mjinga kama huyo tafadhali. Tuongee maneno mengine, yule ni mpuzi sana yule,” Ruto said during the media engagement at State House, Mombasa.
The President then shifted the discussion to his administration’s efforts to reform Kenya’s mining sector and improve the management of the country’s mineral resources.
“Sikizeni. Kusema ukweli, mambo ya madini ni mambo ya muhimu sana. Ni nini nimetafanya, ili tuweze kusahihisha ile sekta ya mambo ya madini,” he said.
Ruto’s remarks came days after Gachagua accused the government of preparing to allow foreign companies to exploit mineral deposits at Mrima Hill, which he claimed are worth about KSh8.2 trillion.
Gachagua, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader, has made the proposed exploitation of the Kwale deposits a central part of his recent criticism of the government.
Speaking to Kenyans in Kansas City, United States, on September 19, Gachagua alleged that Ruto’s trip to the US, including his attendance at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, was partly aimed at advancing a deal on the exploitation of Kenya’s niobium deposits.
“His real mission in the United States is to come and seal a deal with Americans on how niobium will be exploited from Kenya,” Gachagua said.
He later threatened to pursue legal action to stop what he described as an arrangement that would allow Kenya’s mineral wealth to be exploited without sufficient benefit to Kenyans.
“We will not allow William Ruto to sell our mineral deposits from Mrima Hills,” Gachagua said, adding that he would consult lawyers over possible court action.
Gachagua has also urged residents of Kwale and other Kenyans to demand greater transparency over the proposed exploitation of the deposits, which he has valued at about KSh8.2 trillion.
