FLUORSPAR COMPANY ROW: RESIDENTS PETITION PRIME MINISTER RAILA ODINGA

KENYAN Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been petitioned by thousands of Keiyo South residents to preside over a meeting in Keiyo on July 10 aimed at deliberating on the historic re-opening of the controversy-ridden Kenya Flour spar company, in order to offer his guidance and wisdom over the firms operations that have caused the local inhabitants sheer disillusionment and suffering for over four decades.

In an open letter to the Right Honorable premier, the residents who were led by the Keiyo South district ODM chairman Micah Kigen, asserted that Raila's presence at the occasion will be highly appreciated by the party's branch as well as the local people.

The letter, which is also copied to the Keiyo South lawmaker Jackson Kiptanui, states in part:

"On further consultations, the community of Keiyo South constituency has decided to hold a public meeting over this matter, on July 10, 2010 at the Kimwarer primary school grounds. It has been decided by the same community that your wisdom and guidance be sought in this matter."

The letter, signed by Micah Kigen, further states:

"It is in this regard that I officially, on behalf of the Keiyo South constituency and the affected families, invite you to be the Guest of Honor of this important function. Issues to be addressed include; The intended takeover by another investor, compensation of the affected families, fraudulent privatization of the Kenya Flour spar company with an annual turnover of over Kenya Shillings two billion, and the environmental degradation occasioned by the operations of the company, among other issues".

The Keiyo South constituency is located in the Rift Valley province of Kenya.

LETTER TO MICHUKI

In a separate letter addressed to the Environment minister John Michuki, Kigen maintains that the government should intervene without further delay.

The displaced families, the chairman lamented, have been living in tiny holdings on the periphery of the mine in anticipation of compensation (but to no avail) to enable them resettle for over four decades.

"Please do refer to the attached Keiyo South community's memorandum to His Excellency the President dated December 4, 2009 on the suffering's of the community of which there was no response to date. The same was copied to you", Kigen says in his letter to the minister.

He continues:

"This situation, your honor, needs urgent attention by your ministry and other stakeholders as the patience of the people is running out, and the results of their deep and growing frustration may be unpredictable and could turn disastrous with time. They do not want this mine re-opened until these matters are satisfactorily addressed. Some of the issues raised in the memo were

compensation for their land.

Those who were deprived of their land, the letter to Michuki says, have not been compensated, 38 years since the company commenced its operations.

"This is injustice at its worst, and begs questions to answers as to whether the former owners have any rights at all. The government is aware of this issue but has turned a deaf ear to the cries of the people for reasons best known to it," Kigen charges in his letter to Michuki.

POLLUTION

A seriously concerned Kigen goes on to explain how the company, particularly when it was privatized, has continued to cause serious water and air pollution problems with impunity.

"The effluents from the factory are released directly to the river with dire consequences to both livestock, human beings, aquatic animals and plants. Cases of rampant abortion by livestock, death of fish in River Kerio and adverse effects on human teeth and bones, have been reported. Despite a report that was done by the relevant experts with the help of Action Aid, the government has yet to act", he laments.

Adds Kigen:

"NEMA has been known to be swift in closing those factories that do not comply with environmental law. When it comes to Fluorspar, they have turned a blind eye and left the community at the mercy of the company. Where is justice and fairness? What is the role of NEMA and why are they slow to act?"

DEMANDS

In the letter, Kigen, on behalf of his party branch officials and the Keiyo South residents, makes the following demands from the Fluorspar company and the government;

a)That the company remains closed until the issue of compensation is resolved.

b)That the government explains to the community why they have been subjected to unfair treatment by Government and the company yet the information regarding their tribulations is common and public knowledge.

c)That NEMA moves in and does its work without fear or favor; otherwise we would suspect that they have been compromised.

d)That investigations be carried out to find out how the lease for the company was extended and backdated without any consultation with the community.

e)That the private ownership of the company which is suspected to be fraudulent should be canceled, and reverted back to the government.

The letter is copied to the President, the Prime Minister, the Commissioner, Department of Mines and Geology, the managing director, NEMA, the Attorney General, the Rift Valley Provincial Commissioner, the Keiyo South District Commissioner and the managing director of the Kenya Fluorspar Company Limited.