Body probing human rights violations in Taveta

Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has kicked off a public inquiry into allegations of violations of human rights of mining artisans in Taita Taveta County.

Commission chair, Kagwiria Mbogori, said an initial probe reveal systemic rights violations including land grabbing, lack of title deeds, poor mining conditions, police brutality, sexual and gender based violence among others.

Taita Taveta leaders led by Governor John Mruttu and Wundanyi Member of Parliament Thomas Mwadeghu called for better handling of the mining sector to benefit locals as investors rake in millions in minerals.

“Sustainable development goes hand in hand with protection and promotion of human rights at all levels. We welcome all investors who want to do mining business in this county but we will revoke all the licenses of any investor who will not respect the rules and regulations governing mining,” Mruttu warned.

“The new Mining Act is clear on the obligation of mining investors in profit-sharing with land owners and the community. The earlier 1947 mining law didn’t consider the basic rights of land owners,” Mwadeghu opined.

The inquiry started today at AIC Kamtonga in Mwatate for three days to unearth human rights violations and allow debate on mining in the area and address complaints from individuals and groups, before moving to Voi and Wundanyi sub-counties.

“We’re here today as Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, to undertake a very important and crucial inquiry on the status of Artisanal mining in Taita Taveta County. I bring with me a team with great competencies so I am sure, this is going to be a very fruitful exercise,“ said Mbogori

Mbogori says preliminary findings of the KNCHR’s investigations has revealed a number of systemic human rights issues which includes, land dispossession, lack of title deeds, ugly conflict between ranchers, miners and the local community, environmental degradation, poor working conditions for mine workers, police harassment and brutality, poor market access for the small-scale artisanal miners, sexual and gender based violence among others.

“Pursuant to the foregoing, the Commission is here for the next two weeks to conduct a public inquiry from August 22ndwhich is today to September 2nd 2016 in the Taita-Taveta Sub-Counties of Voi, Mwatate and Wundanyi. The hearings to be held at the Kamtonga AIC Church, Kasighau Social Hall and Kishushe CDF hall,” Mbogori intimated.