Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has asked the government through the Ministry of Mining to speed up investigations on human rights abuse allegations against employees and the community at Karebe Gold Mining Limited in Chemase, Nandi County.
Speaking at Nandi mineral right holders stakeholders forum held at the County commissioner’s office, Nandi Senator Cherargei alleged that the company has been subjecting workers to harsh conditions and they are working overtime hours. He said they are in poor health and are working under poor safety standards as they aren’t allowed to use the latrines instead they use buckets because they aren’t given time.
The Nandi Senator who has been pushing for the rights of the workers tirelessly asked the government to take the issue with the seriousness it deserves, citing that if the problem won’t be fixed once and for all, he will use any other legal means to address it.
He insisted that natural resources must benefit local communities in order to ensure there is socio-economic development in Nandi County. The gold mining company is alleged to repeatedly flout labour laws and regulations designed to ensure the protection of workers and their safety is guaranteed.
The two-day stakeholders’ forum will come to a conclusion today and the stakeholders will tour the Karebe mining site for a fact-finding mission. Mining PS John Omenge said the Ministry has received a lot of complaints regarding Karebe Gold Mining Limited and added that investigations to unearth the truth are ongoing.
He said that the mining Act 2016 requires County governments to form community development agreement committees which comprise of the area MP, MCA, a Woman representative, a representative from the national administration, three representatives from investor, a youth, women and men representatives, opinion leaders, civil society, a representative from the marginalised communities and people with disabilities.