Kwale Deputy Governor Storms Out of CS Joho-Led Meeting over KSh8.1bn Mining Deal
Kwale County Deputy Governor Josphat Chirema Kombo dramatically walked out of a high-level meeting convened by the Ministry of Mining and Blue Economy on Friday, January 9, in a growing standoff over the proposed KSh8.1 billion Mrima Hills mineral mining project.
The meeting, held at the Kenya School of Government’s Matuga Campus and chaired by Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho, had been organised to discuss plans for the extraction of rare earth minerals in Mrima Hills, located in Lunga Lunga Sub-County. It brought together Members of Parliament, Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), and senior officials from the Kwale County Government.
However, proceedings were abruptly disrupted when the Deputy Governor, accompanied by Pongwe–Kikoneni MCA Omar Mwaduga and Vanga MCA Yusuf Mbwana, angrily exited the session, accusing the organisers of attempting to push through the multi-billion-shilling project without meaningful public participation.
Speaking to journalists outside the GTI conferencing hall shortly after the walkout, Mr Kombo launched a stinging attack on the process and directly faulted CS Joho, accusing the National Government of sidelining and humiliating elected leaders from Kwale County.
“We cannot sit in a meeting where leaders are being intimidated and denied a chance to air the concerns of the people they represent,” Mr Kombo said.
“This process is flawed and disrespectful to the leadership of Kwale County.”
The Deputy Governor insisted that the county administration would not back the Mrima Hills mining project unless the concerns of local communities were fully addressed and incorporated into the decision-making process.
“Kwale County will not accept the mining of Mrima minerals until the National Government listens to the voices and cries of our leaders and wananchi,” he added.
“Development cannot be imposed on people.”
The Mrima Hills project has attracted national and international attention due to the area’s vast deposits of rare earth minerals, including niobium, which are considered strategically important for modern industries such as electronics, renewable energy, and defence manufacturing. The region is regarded as one of the few globally endowed with such valuable mineral resources.
Despite the economic promise of the project, local leaders have repeatedly raised concerns over land rights, environmental impact, compensation, and the lack of adequate consultation with residents living around Mrima Hills.
Backing the Deputy Governor’s position, both MCA Omar Mwaduga and MCA Yusuf Mbwana warned that they would resist any attempt to marginalise residents in decisions that could permanently alter their land and livelihoods.
“We were elected to protect the interests of our people, and we will not allow them to be oppressed or excluded from decisions that directly affect their land and livelihoods,” Mr Mbwana said.
The walkout highlights escalating tensions between the National Government and Kwale County leadership, casting further uncertainty over the future of the lucrative Mrima Hills mining venture as demands for greater transparency and public participation continue to mount.
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Kwale Deputy Governor Storms Out of CS Joho-Led Meeting over KSh8.1bn Mining Deal