Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho has ordered immediate halt of operations at all mining sites in Jaribuni area, Kauma Sub County, Kilifi County after residents protested about health hazards.

Joho issued the orders when he met mining investors at Kilifi Governor’s residence where he also demanded disclosure of all revenues remitted by the mining firms.

“For every mine there has to be what we call community development agreement committees and you must sign an agreement with them and put one percent gross so that the community can choose what they want to do with the money,” he said.

Mining companies operating in the area have been accused of polluting the environment, not remitting royalties to communities and failure to maintain the dusty roads leading to the sites hence creating a health hazard.

“My directive is that operations at the mining sites are suspended immediately until we agree and I will send here the secretary for mines to enforce the order and talk to all stakeholders and he will advise me so that I can lift the orders,” he said.

Joho also warned the mining companies against disobeying his orders saying that he will only lift the orders if they complied with mining laws and signed a cooperation agreement with residents of Jaribuni area.

Efforts by a spokesperson of the mining firms Khalif Yasir Khan to persuade the government fell on deaf ears as Joho stood his ground and even threatened to cancel their mining licenses.

“We accept that there are mistakes that were made and it has taken years and I urge you to listen to us. The companies have resolved to cooperate and fix the roads for a start and every company will produce 1,000 tonnes of gravel for the roads,” he said.

This is not the first time the CS is closing down mining operations in Kilifi County since he closed a cement factory in Rabai Sub County in January for flouting mining rules in the area.

Residents residing near mining sites across the county have been complaining of air pollution either by emissions, dust chemicals with many of them suffering from respiratory diseases.

Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro who was present at the meeting told the company owners that they should always ensure the safety of communities residing around mining sites to prevent catastrophes.

On Tuesday this week, hundreds of residents of Jaribuni area protested and blocked roads leading to the mining sites, forcing Mung’aro to rush at the site and calm them down.

The local community led the closure of the roads starting with the Dzitsoni- Jaribuni road, Mnarani- Ngamani road and the Majajani- Jaribuni road which they said had turned their villages into dust coats.

Mr Khamisi Mwarabu, a youth leader said that many people had lost their lives while many more were treating diseases and ailments associated with contaminated and toxic dust emanating from the mining sites adding that explosives used at the sites had made some buildings collapse.