Day: April 1, 2023

Bamburi Cement Ltd is set to launch a multimillion shillings shale mining factory in Matuga sub county of Kwale.

The cement manufacturer has been undertaking exploration and prospecting of shale (clayey materials compacted into rocks over time) in Kwale since 2018.

Bamburi Cement Ltd outgoing Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Seddiq Hassani and the incoming CEO Mohit Kapoor revealed the company’s plans when the duo led a team on a courtesy call on area Governor Fatuma Achani.

Bamburi Cement appointed Kapoor as new CEO effective April 1 following resignation of Seddiq Hassani after five years at the helm.

The team visited the county headquarters to brief the local leadership on the steps made on land acquisition processes to set up the shale mining factory.

Mr. Hassani said the Bamburi Cement industrial strategy is to scale up business in the South coast and establish a 5,000 ton capacity per day clinker plant.

He said the cement company has already developed a livelihood restoration programme for all those who will be affected by the shale mining project, and has set guidelines for their compensation and relocation.

The company says the Kundutsi sub location, Matuga sub county area has been identified as a key source of raw material.

Shale material, which is to be mined at Kundutsi Sub Location, will then be transported 10-17Km via Matuga to Magandia existing road through Waa to Ngombeni Sub Location for clinker production.

The proposed shale mining location is approximately 700 acres of land currently owned by local communities who are practicing maize, cassava, mango and coconut farming in the area.

Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock that forms from the compaction of silt and clay-size mineral particles that we commonly call ‘mud.’ It is used as an additive to lime during production of a categorized quality of cement product (value addition).

The company says no crushing will take place on site, but will be transported to the proposed clinker plant at Ngombeni.

Earth Resource Exploration Ltd that carried out an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report recommended to the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) the go ahead to issue the project license.

The purpose of the assessment is to identify potential positive and negative environmental impacts associated with the proposed project and provide recommendations on how to take advantage of the positive impacts on one hand and mitigate the negative environmental impacts on the other.

The proposed shale quarry is expected to provide about 20 per cent of the total resource material for the clinker production process.

Governor Achani said they are positive about the company’s investment in Kwale and invite other investors to come and explore the many untapped opportunities in the county.

‘Strengthening the business environment and making it conducive for investments is our top priority,’ she said.

Achani assured local and international investors of a conducive business environment and restated the commitment of her administration to ensure support for companies willing to invest in the county.

Governor Achani says that her administration was committed to ensuring the success of all kinds of investors in the coastal county.

‘As a devolved unit we are taking calculated steps to make Kwale investors’ choice in the country,’ she said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government has brought back the National Maritime Security Committee to enhance security surveillance in Kenya’s blue spaces.

Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Salim Mvurya says the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) will be empowered to handle more responsibilities in safety and security, as a result, the maritime committee was revived.

The committee will be chaired by PS Maritime and Shipping, PS Defence, and PS Interior, while other maritime stakeholders will be members of the committee.

‘We will be able to monitor our exclusive economic zone and we will be able to provide on-time security response on a number of issues that happened in the blue space,’ said CS Mvurya when he inspected the construction of the 18-floor KMA Towers in Mombasa which is near completion.

The CS was impressed with the progress of construction of the Sh2B world-class maritime headquarters which he said should be ready by June 30 this year.

‘The project is very key to the maritime sector because the maritime and shipping sector has also to grow in our country and for it to grow, we have to enhance the capacity of our key institutions in maritime so that they can handle new challenges and opportunities in the globe,’ said the CS.

The building will have a rescue and emergency Centre to coordinate all rescue activities in the Indian Ocean and it will be equipped with modern equipment.

‘There will be cameras that are linked with vessels in the Indian Ocean so that at least then we can have proper surveillance. I think right now that capacity is still very low so through this particular project, we should be able to enhance the capacity of rescue and surveillance,’ said the CS adding that the project will transform the maritime and shipping sectors.

The CS has directed KMA to inspire its capacity for safety both in the Indian Ocean and in lakes because they are many vessels and boats that operate without compliance.

‘Safety in the blue space is not something that is an afterthought. We want to have good plans to make sure shipping activities comply with global requirements,’ he said.

The CS disclosed that discussions were ongoing with the Kenya National Shipping Line (KNSL) to enhance the country’s capacity in dry docking and vessel maintenance.

The CS promised to transform KMA to handle more responsibilities and opportunities that will come along since 90 per cent of all the international trade happens in the blue space.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Bomet County has initiated many projects worth billions to ensure that its residents have access to clean, fresh, and reliable water supply.

During the marking of world Water day in Konoin, Governor Barchok affirmed that his administration is focusing to improve water access by linking every sub-county with the County’s main grid water system.

‘Water, as a precious commodity, remains our key focus as a government as we aim to improve access to clean and safe water for our population,’ stated the governor.

Barchok noted that his administration is in the process of accelerating change in the water sector, ‘We take note of the challenges the sector faces but we also take pride in our achievement and success so far. We shall do more as we aim to achieve the SDG’s goal number six which aspires to provide safe and clean water for all by 2030’.

To achieve the sustainable development goal, the County has initiated many ongoing projects which include the KES 1.7B Bomet-Mulot water supply by the Lake Victoria Water Works Development Agency funded by the African Development Bank.

The governor further revealed that his administration is also expanding the supply line of Kaboson-Kaptarakwa-Chepkeskwaet in Chebunyo Ward in collaboration with the World Vision.

A good number of water sustainable projects aimed at relieving residents have also been commissioned at Kaptebengwet and Taboino water projects in Konoin Sub- County.

‘These two will bring us closer to our goal to sustainable provision of water to our people. Other projects that we have completed and ready for commissioning include Kipngosos, Siroin, Kiprobonyit, Cheptangulgei, Kiptulwa, Marinyin, Old Sigor Pump station-Siongiroi-Chebunyo line, Nogirwet Supply among others,’ explained Barchok

‘We look forward to more success as we put more efforts and resources to this very significant sector as we aim to have everyone access clean and safe water by 2030 as per the SDGs,’ he said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A total of 20 million tree seedlings are targeted for planting in the Rift Valley region by the end of June this year, Rift Valley Regional Commissioner (RC) Dr. Abdi Hassan has said.

Already nine million tree seedlings have so far been planted in various public forests, public institutions, and private farms, said the RC.

Speaking while leading a tree planting exercise where more than 11,100 tree seedlings were planted at Cengalo forest in Kesses constituency, Uasin Gishu County, Dr. Hassan said they are committed to achieving the target if the weather conditions continued to be favourable.

‘To achieve the target, we are set to increase our campaigns to engage all stakeholders to join in the tree planting efforts, particularly in degraded government forests,’ said the RC.

He said the region’s target was in line with President William Ruto’s directive of planting trees across the country as a mitigation measure against climate change.

Dr. Hassan urged residents to make tree planting a priority so as to increase the region’s forest cover and mitigate the effects of climate change.

He said the national and county governments would continue working together to achieve the 30% forest cover as directed by the President during last year’s Mashujaa day celebrations. The country’s forest cover currently stands at 12%.

In the past, some people had formed a bad behaviour of encroaching on government forests causing wanton destruction of trees and causing massive degradation of the forest, said the RC.

‘I want to warn people who have the habit of encroaching on the government to engage in illegal logging that no one will be spared when caught. If found felling trees without following due process, you will be arrested and prosecuted as per the law,’ warned Dr. Hassan.

He further cautioned contractors that they would not be allowed to needlessly cut down trees in the guise of implementing projects, and advised them to consult with relevant government agencies before cutting down any tree.

The RC who was flanked by Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Dr. Eddyson Nyale said the Uasin Gishu, hitherto identified as one of those counties with very low tree cover, has so far planted 800,000 trees in 700 hectares both in public and private land as part of a target given to the county to enhance forest cover.

He stated that there was evidence of human contribution to climate change as they cut down a significant number of trees for charcoal and firewood hence amplifying the fluctuating weather and climate events that caused the recent drought.

‘There are more than 160,000 seedlings that are readily available in Kenya Forest Service stations for planting during the current rain season,’ he noted.

He further urged National Government Administrative officers in different sub-counties to ensure trees are planted and taken care of as this move will boost the numbers to make sure there’s enough enforcement to protect the ecosystem.

There is a need for all Kenyans to work closely in environmental conservation and protection as there is a close correlation between forest conservation and food security,’ he noted.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The national government is working to put three million acres of land under irrigation farming by 2030.

Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alice Wahome has said that already, they are implementing several projects in different parts of the country to boost irrigation farming with the aim of achieving food security.

She said in the next five years, 1. 8 million acres will be put under irrigation adding that the projects are targeting small scale farmers.

The CS spoke when she launched three community irrigation projects in Murang’a County.

The projects launched included Nyanjigi in Kangema sub-county, Maragua ridge in Murang’a south and Boboti Kiamande in Kandara, which have cost the government a tune of almost Sh500, 000 million.

The projects are targeting to provide water for irrigation to more than 2,000 small-scale farmers.

She underscored the need to support irrigation farming saying the country currently has a shortage of more than 10 million bags of maize.

‘For government to attain food security, there is a need to support irrigation farming. This will require partnership between the government, members of the community and private investors,’ she added.

Wahome said the Ministry of Water would also drill boreholes to complement water sourced from rivers and dams.

She explained that the Nyanjigi water project in Kangema would support 500 farmers and her Ministry is working to provide funding to distribute the water to other 500 farmers.

‘Nyanjigi project was supported by the community and the government. We have come in to provide infrastructure that leads to distribution of water to farmers’ farms,’ she said.

‘The project will support horticulture farming and it is estimated annually the beneficiaries will be able to make more than Sh100 million,’ she added.

The CS further said they have started negotiations with private and international organizations to fund various irrigation projects.

‘Galana-Kulalu will be changed for commercial irrigation and since the government has no required funding, we will invite international organizations to partner in supporting the projects,’ she added.

Meanwhile, the CS called upon farmers to form groups and start irrigation projects saying it would be easy for the government to support the community-based projects with needed infrastructure like pipes.

Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata said his administration would support the projects initiated by the national government by ensuring they are well maintained.

‘Water is very vital in attaining food security and as Murang’a county government, we will maintain projects,’ he added.

Kangema MP Peter Kihungi lauded Nyanjigi project saying it has ensured locals have continuous food supply.

‘Farmers can’t rely only on rain-fed farming. This region has experienced drought for a long time and with such irrigation schemes, food security will get a big boost,’ added Kihungi.

Source: Kenya News Agency