Top officials heed Uhurus directive on Taveta miners

An inter-ministerial team led by Mining Cabinet Secretary Dan Kazungu on Wednesday descended on Taita-Taveta County to attend the ground-breaking ceremony for the Gemstone Cutting Centre in Voi town.

The team was acting on President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive for the gov’t to extend technical expertise and equipment to miners in Taita Tavcta that he issued during his tour of the county on Saturday when he pledged to modernize the mining sector countrywide.

“The Mining ministry intends to make Taita-Taveta a show-case in modern mining in the country by adding value to mining through professional gem cutting,” said Mining CS Kazungu.

The Gemstone Cutting Centre is set to be national college, providing education and vocational training to miners and equipping learners with the necessary skills to address wastage incurred during the mining process.

Scores of youth from the county attended the forum graced by top government officials including Public Service Principal Secretary (PS) Lilliam Mbogo, Environment PS Margaret Mwakima, Mining PS Ibrahim Mohamed and NYS director general Richard Ndubai.

As the hunt for votes ahead of the August 8th poll hots up, the Public Service PS Mbogo cautioned political aspirants to avoid politicizing the project and take full advantage of the assistance rendered by the government to the people of Taita Taveta.

“The government has stepped up poverty eradication among the people of Taita-Taveta and we’ve plans to provide boreholes and water pans,” said Environment PS Mwakima.

Ms Mbogo also urged the youth and women to utilize affirmative funds wisely in order to improve their lives and create employment for their peers.