Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho has flown into a political firestorm in Kwale County, convening urgent crisis talks with Kaya elders and local professionals to save the multi-billion shilling rare earth mining project at Mrima Hill.

Tensions have boiled over in the coastal community, with residents threatening to block the project over fears of environmental degradation and the desecration of sacred Kaya forests. Mrima Hill sits on one of the world’s largest deposits of niobium and rare earth minerals, critical for green technology, but it is also a spiritual shrine for the Mijikenda people.

The Standoff

During a tense meeting, Joho attempted to assure the community that the government would enforce strict environmental safeguards. However, trust is low. Locals point to the legacy of lead poisoning in Owino Uhuru as proof that state assurances often evaporate once digging begins.

• Land Rights: The Mrima Community Forest Association is demanding clear compensation frameworks before a single shovel hits the ground. They fear displacement without fair pay.
• Radiation Risks: Mrima Hill is known to have naturally high background radiation. Residents worry that mining will release radioactive dust into their water sources and homes.
• Joho’s Gamble: For the CS, unlocking Mrima Hill is a key deliverable for his ministry. Failure would be a blow to his track record, but pushing too hard could cost him political capital in his own backyard.

Balancing Act

"We will not allow profit to supersede our heritage," warned a Kaya elder. Joho promised an "inclusive and structured" public participation process, but the clock is ticking. The government wants the minerals; the people want their mountain.