Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Hassan Joho has given a status update on the construction of a Ksh5.8 billion gold refinery at the Lidambitsa area in Ikolomani constituency, Kakamega County.

Joho in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, stated that he had received a progress review report from H-NUO, an investment company working on the project.

Joho on project completion

The former Mombasa governor says the gold refinery’s construction project will be completed within the set 12 months beginning this August, as assured by the contractor.

Joho further expressed his confidence that the project would promote in-country mineral value addition and attendant socio-economic benefits to communities in the western part of the country.

“Value addition on our mineral resources is key to ensuring that we don’t deny our young people jobs through the exportation of raw materials. Today morning I received a progress review report from H-NUO, an investment company putting up the Kakamega Gold Refinery.

“I welcome the investor’s assurance that the refinery’s construction project will be completed within the set 12 months beginning this August and I am confident that once complete, the project will promote in-country mineral value addition and attendant socio-economic benefits to our communities in the western part of our country,” Joho stated in a statement shared via his official X account.

Joho on working relationship

The Mining CS went ahead to call for a close working relationship between the investor, local leaders and the community.

Moreover, Joho noted that his ministry will give the project all the support required to ensure timely completion and operationalisation.

“I further encourage a close working relationship between the investor, local leaders and the community while at the same time give my undertaking that as a ministry we will give this project, which is a joint venture between the national Government and H-NUO investment company, all the support required to ensure timely completion and operationalisation,” Joho said.

Value addition on our mineral resources is key to ensuring that we don’t deny our young people jobs through the exportation of raw materials.

Today morning I received a progress review report from H-NUO, an investment company putting up the Kakamega Gold Refinery. I welcome the… pic.twitter.com/1MezYQybCt

— Hassan Ali Joho, EGH. (@HassanAliJoho) August 28, 2024

Kakamega gold refinery launch

The Kakamega gold refinery project was officially launched in June 2024, by the then Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary (CS), Salim Mvurya.

The project is set to be operational by June next year and is expected to be a game changer in the mineral mining sector in the country.