Firms scramble for gold mining rights on disputed land
By People Reporter, April 26, 2021Wycliff Kipsang @wsang08
Two mining companies in Nandi county have clashed over rights to extract gold from a disputed land.
Kerebe Gold Mining Company, which has been operating in the area for the last 12 years with a work force of over 500, has accused the newly formed Nandi/Chemase Gold Company for engaging in illegal mineral extraction without a license from the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining.
Nandi/Chemase is listed by the Registrar of Companies as having four directors allied to a senior politician from Rift Valley.
Main shareholder, however, is a Chinese investor named by the Registrar of Companies as Bai Yuehua, who owns 60 ordinary shares.
Nandi County Land Executive Dr Philemon Bureti has written to Nandi/Chemase directing the firm to suspend operations until they meet all the requirements in the next 21 days.
Karebe, which is associated with investors from Britain, was recently given license to extract gold for 25 years.
According to Jeremy Froome, Chief Finance Officer Karebe Gold Mining, the land dispute had forced them to be out of business for a year.
Froome claimed they have lost workers to the rival company, which is said to enjoy high-level political connection.
“Those terrorising our workers are well-known but we wonder why no action has been taken against them,” said Froome.
Karebe is now appealing to the DCI to intervene and have those who have been interfering with their activities arrested.
Efforts to contact Nandi/Chemase proved futile, as our calls and text messages went unanswered.