Mining
The County Government has handed over approximately five acres of rehabilitated land to the Naduat community of artisanal miners following the restoration of the degraded site from mining activities.
Once scarred by unsustainable mining practices, the land suffered deforestation and excessive excavations, leading to bareness and largely dangerous pits. The rehabilitation works included soil stabilization, reforestation, and levelling. This is in order to transform the degraded terrain into fertile ground capable of supporting diverse economic activities.
At the handover ceremony, Director for Environment, Phoebe Ekal highlighted the significance of this transformation. “Today, we are not just giving land back to the community, we are giving them a sustainable future. This rehabilitated land represents our commitment to maximize land use through environmentally friendly practices,” Ekal said.
It is expected that the rehabilitated land will enable the community to engage in other productive activities for livelihood support.
“The initiative to hand over rehabilitated land is a testament to our dedication to reversing environmental degradation while fostering economic growth. By integrating sustainable practices, we are setting a new standard for artisanal mining in the region,” Ekal added.
Nakalale Ward Administrator Moses Kanayo, shared his optimism about the community’s future. “This initiative has brought hope to our community. We now have the opportunity to improve our livelihoods while preserving our environment,” he said.
The ward administrator also led the areas’ community in forming a committee to oversee management of the rehabilitated site. The seven-member committee was selected by the community during the handover ceremony. The Naduat community’s journey serves as an inspiring model for other regions grappling with the impacts of unsustainable mining.
Present during the handover were Andrew Akolom (Area Chief), Jacob Mutua (Principal Environment Officer), Samuel Ekaran (Senior Environment officer) and David Epeta (Environmental Officer).