Kwale leaders lock horns with CS Joho over Mrima Hill mining

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A standoff is brewing in Kwale county over the proposed mining of rare earth minerals at Mrima Hill, with county leaders and the national government now publicly trading blows over consultation, transparency and control.

The fault lines were laid bare on Friday, when Kwale Deputy Governor Chirema Kombo, accompanied by MCAs, dramatically walked out of a meeting chaired by Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho at the Kenya School of Government in Matuga.

Mrima Hill, in Lunga Lunga subcounty, has rare earth minerals believed to be worth billions of shillings, making it one of the most sensitive resource projects in the country.

The meeting had initially proceeded without incident.

However, tension escalated when local leaders demanded clarity on the procedures, transparency and planned activities surrounding the proposed mining.

Kombo accused the Ministry of Mining of sidelining the county government and pushing decisions without adequate consultation.

“The idea of this meeting was consultation, but unfortunately, many of these discussions are being conducted by the local administration with the ministry in the absence of the county government and the communities,” he said after storming out.

He claimed leaders seeking accountability were being silenced and, in some cases, threatened, insisting that the county government has a constitutional duty to protect the interests of its people.

“We are not in a colonial government but a democratic one. If the views of local leaders are not welcome, then it is better to walk out,” Kombo said, warning that Kwale would not allow a repeat of past mining experiences that left communities displaced and impoverished.

Kombo further alleged that vested interests were pushing for forced exploitation of Mrima Hill, vowing that the county would resist any process that sidelines residents or violates the rule of law.

Vanga MCA Yusuf Mbwana and Pongwe–Kikoneni MCA Omar Mwaduga backed the deputy governor’s concerns, accusing the ministry of holding meetings without the governor, MCAs or area leaders.

“These meetings do not reflect the needs of the community and when we ask questions, the environment becomes hostile,” Mwaduga said.

Mbwana clarified that leaders were not opposed to mining, but rather demanded openness and tangible benefits for locals, including value addition at the source.

“We don’t want our minerals extracted recklessly while our people continue to suffer,” he said.

Joho, however, dismissed the allegations, insisting that the ministry is following due process and that no decisions have been made on Mrima Hill.

“We have not given out Mrima Hill to anyone. In fact, nobody even knows what minerals are there or their value. People are just speculating,” he said.

Joho urged leaders to engage constructively rather than politicise the project, describing Mrima Hill as a national undertaking that, if properly managed, could benefit thousands and boost the economy.

“Mrima Hill is of national strategic importance, hosting minerals that are critical for modern infrastructure and energy transition. Our obligation as the national government is to ensure these resources are extracted safely, transparently and sustainably for the long-term prosperity of Kwale and the country as a whole,” he said.

Joho said his assurance to the Kwale leadership is that the Ministry is committed to transparency and accountability throughout the project's development process.

“Mrima Hill will be the first mining project in Kenya to be subjected to an open and competitive tendering process, setting a new benchmark for accountability in the sector,” he said.

Mining Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai backed Joho’s position, announcing plans for structured, separate engagements with county leadership, the county assembly, MPs and other partners to chart the way forward.

On Saturday, Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani convened a consultative forum with residents and leaders at Mrima Polytechnic in Lunga Lunga, assuring locals that no mining would proceed without their consent.

“As your governor, I cannot make any decision regarding mining on my own without the people deciding,” Achani said, warning against any parallel meetings held without the involvement of residents.

She said there are currently no active plans to mine Mrima Hills and that structured consultations involving both levels of government and the community would guide any future decisions.

Lunga Lunga MP Mangale Chiforomodo called for unity and calm, urging residents not to allow ethnic divisions to derail efforts to find a lasting solution.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

The Mrima Hill standoff exposes deeper tensions between national authority and devolved governance over control of natural resources. While the national government frames the project as a strategic economic asset requiring patience and technical assessment, Kwale leaders view the process through the lens of historical exploitation, exclusion, and community harm.