Government criticised for approving mining project

The Kenyan authorities have been accused of approving a controversial titanium mining venture along the country's Indian Ocean coast without addressing the economic and environmental concerns raised by the local population. Environment Minister Newton Kulundu on Friday said his ministry had approved a Canadian mining company's licence to excavate titanium in Kwale district. The US $675 million project, is considered one of the biggest mining projects ever planned in Kenya. The project also is expected to generate direct employment for at least 1,000 residents. He said the 420 families who occupy the 2,010 acres of land affected by the mining project would receive approximately US $1,100 per acre of land as compensation. However Khalif Khelef, who heads Muslim for Human Rights (MUHURI), the NGO which has been spearheading the rights of local residents in Msambweni, said the government had ignored the longer term goals of poverty alleviation and environmental protection for the affected areas. Residents have fought hard against the licensing of the project, citing poor planning, under- compensation and environmental issues. "I don't think the government has come clean on this issue," Khelef told IRIN. "I don't think they have even started to address the concerns about environmental degradation and poverty alleviation. Investment for the sake of investment is not enough, if it is not done properly." Khelef said the local people were considering going to court to challenge the government decision, which according to him, had resulted from donor pressure. "I think there is a big battle ahead," he added. The Canadian company, Tiomin Resources Inc., discovered the rich, titanium-bearing sands along the Kenyan coast in 1997, but the actual mining operation stalled over allegations of bribery, coercion, high-level corruption and lack of a comprehensive environmental impact assessment.