A storm is brewing in the windswept plains of Taita Taveta County, where a KES 11 billion iron ore project, pivotal to Kenya's industrial ambitions, has been licensed on private ranch land allegedly without the owners' consent. The move has thrust one of Kenya's largest industrial conglomerates, Devki Group, into a bitter standoff with local landowners.

The dispute places Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho at the center of a high-stakes conflict that tests the government's commitment to the Mining Act of 2016. This legislation explicitly requires community engagement and landowner consent before extractive operations can begin, a provision ranchers claim was entirely bypassed.

A Deal Shrouded in Controversy

At the heart of the dispute is the Kishushe Ranching Cooperative Society, a community of over 700 shareholders who hold the title to the iron-ore-rich land. Factions within the ranch's leadership are locked in a bitter struggle, complicating the process of consent. One faction is accused of granting Devki the go-ahead without a mandate from all shareholders. "We have a problem with how Devki came to our land without our permission," noted interim committee member Matilda Waleghwa, emphasizing that the law protects the shareholders' rights.

The Taita Taveta County Government has also distanced itself from the deal, stating it does not recognize the 45-year lease granted to the investor by a faction of the cooperative society. Christine Zighe, the County Executive for Lands and Mining, confirmed the county was never consulted on the matter.

Economic Promise vs. Local Rights

Devki Group, owned by industrialist Narendra Raval, is building the KES 11 billion iron ore pelletization plant in Voi, which will depend on the ore from the contested ranch land. The project promises significant economic benefits for a region that has lagged in industrial development.

• Job Creation: The plant is expected to create about 3,000 direct jobs in its first phase and over 14,000 upon completion.
• Reduced Imports: President William Ruto, who attended the plant's groundbreaking ceremony, noted the project would help reduce Kenya's Sh120 billion iron and steel import bill.
• Value Addition: The facility is designed for local processing and value addition, a key priority for the government to maximize revenue from its mineral wealth.

Despite these promises, local shareholders remain resolute. "He is invading our land with impunity," stated shareholder Benedict Mwabili, reflecting a community sentiment that economic development cannot come at the cost of their constitutional land rights.

While Devki Group has remained largely silent, the Ministry of Mining has acknowledged that applications are being processed but noted that leadership wrangles have complicated the matter. In a gazette notice in September 2025, CS Joho invited any objections to the granting of a prospecting license to Devki Steel Mills within 20 days.

As the legal and community battles unfold, the situation in Taita Taveta is fast becoming a critical test case for Kenya's mining future. It pits the national government's industrialization agenda against the fundamental land rights of its citizens, leaving the community and the nation watching to see whose interests will ultimately prevail.