KWALE, County—Linda Mwananchi Movement leader Edwin Sifuna has demanded full disclosure of proposed mining agreements for the mineral-rich Mrima Hills in Kwale, warning that local communities risk being excluded from decisions concerning the exploitation of resources found in their land.
Sifuna questioned whether the government had adequately addressed residents’ concerns over land ownership, compensation and revenue sharing before awarding the proposed mining project to investors.
He insisted that all mining contracts should be made public to allow communities to understand the terms of engagement, the expected benefits and the obligations of prospective investors.
“Furthermore, all mining contracts must be made public. Base Titanium operated here for over 12 years and left without the community receiving its promised project funds,” he said.
The proposed Mrima Hills project in Lunga Lunga involves the extraction of niobium and rare earth minerals, which are essential raw materials used in industries such as aerospace, electronics and electric vehicle manufacturing.
Sifuna also raised concerns over land ownership, claiming that some residents possessed title documents covering smaller portions of land than the areas they actually occupied.
He called for historical land disputes to be addressed before mining operations commence, warning that residents could face displacement or inadequate compensation if their ownership concerns remained unresolved.
The project has attracted international interest, with five bidders submitting proposals on October 21, 2026, according to Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho.
The contenders include two American consortia, a US-linked group, an Australian consortium and a Kenyan-British joint venture. Two Chinese companies withdrew from the bidding process.
Joho has indicated that the government expects to select the successful bidder within two to three weeks, maintaining that the process will be guided by transparency and national interests.
The mineral deposit is believed to contain resources worth tens of billions of dollars, although the estimated value of the minerals does not necessarily translate into equivalent government revenue or direct benefits for surrounding communities.
Sifuna’s concerns are rooted partly in Kwale’s previous mining experience, where Base Titanium operated the Kwale Mineral Sands project for more than a decade.
Although the company entered into community development arrangements, including agreements signed with local communities in 2021, Sifuna questioned whether residents had received the benefits promised under those arrangements.
He challenged Joho and Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani to explain what measures had been taken to address outstanding community concerns arising from previous mining operations.
Beyond the mining dispute, Sifuna criticised the Ruto administration over what he described as its failure to adequately address human rights concerns, arguing that infrastructure development should not overshadow the government’s constitutional obligation to protect lives.
He cited the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody in June 2025, questioning how the government could celebrate development achievements while concerns over violations of citizens’ rights remained unresolved.
“Development means nothing once a life is taken,” he said.
On the 2027 General Election, Sifuna called for opposition leaders to unite behind a single presidential candidate to challenge Ruto, arguing that a fragmented opposition would undermine efforts to mount a coordinated political challenge.
He also claimed that residents in Kwale wanted him to contest the presidency, urging opposition leaders to pay attention to political sentiments emerging from the grassroots.
Sifuna has increasingly positioned the Linda Mwananchi Movement as a platform for his political activities following his departure from ODM, where he served as Secretary-General for eight years.
The movement unveiled its proposed national leadership on October 30, naming Sifuna as party leader and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya to head its presidential campaign. The proposed appointments are expected to be presented to the movement’s National Delegates Convention on November 13 for approval.
