The construction of an iron ore processing plant in Taita Taveta County has received a significant boost, with the county government officially handing over a portion of land to business mogul Narendra Raval early this month.
The project, which is expected to employ over 2,000 local residents, marks a key development in the region.
During the handover ceremony, Raval announced that construction of the Sh.10 billion facility would commence this month, with completion anticipated in eight months.
Emphasizing local involvement, he stated, “The construction of the project will start this month. While construction is ongoing, we will employ over 2,000 people from Taita Taveta. But once the construction is complete, our plan is different; we don’t want one person to mine and others to watch. I don’t want to do mining myself. I want you guys to mine together with other miners. We will try to support each and every artisanal miner with a mechanism to mine more and become tertiary.”
Addressing broader socio-economic concerns, Raval highlighted the challenge of unemployment among Gen-Zs, stressing the importance of job creation to mitigate the issue.
“The country is currently facing problems with Gen-Zs. It’s not their fault but a problem of unemployment. People don’t have time to go on the streets if they have work,” he said.
With over 14,000 Gen-Zs currently employed in his companies, Raval envisions that with a supportive working environment and government backing, similar projects could expand nationwide, potentially creating over 200,000 job opportunities for Kenyan youths.
Raval reiterated his dedication to job creation and community support, stating, “I am not a politician. I will do the job that God has sent me to do, which is to create jobs for the country. Our company has been here for 45 years, and we are here to stay. All the children here are my children. If a child somewhere sleeps on an empty stomach, that’s not their problem; maybe it’s my problem. I want the youths to work in our industries and earn a living.”
The Mbulia land, now officially handed over to the investor, is located near the iron ore-rich Kishushe area, a region with significant potential for mining and mineral processing due to its large iron ore deposits.
Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi, from the State Department for Mining in the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs, revealed that the government had identified Taita Taveta as a key county for iron ore value addition and processing.
Mwangi, who had earlier engaged with local leaders and residents, noted that the establishment of the plant would unlock the region’s natural resources and strengthen its economy.
“Minerals value addition brings numerous opportunities, including the creation of employment through processing, refining, and manufacturing of minerals, transfer of skills, knowledge and technology, and revenue generation,” Mwangi said.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting investors and other miners in the region, with the goal of creating more jobs for Kenyan youths. He also stressed the importance of adhering to mining laws and ensuring that the community benefits from mining activities.
“For those who will be issued mining licenses, we will ensure the Community Development Agreement Committee (CDAC) is in place so that the community receives the funds they are entitled to for development,” he added.
Mwangi also mentioned that, following President William Ruto’s directive to create a legal framework for mining in parks, the ministry had developed a framework to allow such activities while preserving the ecosystem.
“Within the coming month, the team will conduct public participation to ensure that all interested parties in Taita Taveta have the opportunity to contribute their views on mining in parks,” he noted, adding that this would enable sustainable mining while conserving the parks’ ecosystem.
Taita Taveta County Governor Andrew Mwadime urged residents to reject early and divisive politics and instead focus on supporting government projects and investments within the county.
He commended the community for their decision to provide land to the investor, viewing it as a clear indication of the residents’ readiness to embrace development.
Governor Mwadime emphasized the potential benefits of such investments, highlighting that the county’s economy could be significantly improved through the proper utilization of its abundant mineral resources.
Mwadime also urged the Principal Secretary to prioritize local communities when allocating mining sites within the park before extending these opportunities to others. He expressed the county government’s interest in establishing its own mining sites to actively participate in the mining sector.
“The county government also wants to have its own mining sites to have the opportunity to engage in mining,” said the Governor.
He also called on local leaders, including MPs and MCAs, to collaborate in creating laws that protect investors, acknowledging that such investments would generate employment opportunities for many young people in the county.
During the ceremony, Governor Mwadime emphasized the importance of legislative support, outlining plans to work closely with the County Assembly, MPs, Senator, and Women Representative to develop laws safeguarding investors, miners, and workers.
“As the Executive, we will work together with the County Assembly and all our MPs, the Senator, and the Women Representative to create a law that will protect the investor, the miners, and the workers in the industry, as this is the first industry in this county,” said Mwadime, urging the investor to prioritize hiring local youths once the industry is operational.
The event was attended by both local and national leaders, including Deputy Governor Christine Kilalo, Voi MP Engineer Abdi Chome, Wundanyi MP Danson Mwashako, area MCAs, Voi Deputy County Commissioner Daniel Nduti, county officials, and other government representatives.
