"Fresh stand-off as MPs oppose Ngilu’s coal mining plans in Mui"

Three Kitui MPs have broken ranks with their colleagues and opposed Governor Charity Ngilu’s plan to allow coal mining in the county. Mwingi Central MP Gideon Mulyungi and his Kitui east colleague Nimrod Mbai have said their constituents occupying coal areas have not been consulted. Mui coal basin straddles their two constituencies...On Wednesday Mbai publicly voiced his opposition to Ngilu spearheading coal mining in Mui. He told landowners in coal blocs A and B at Mutito market that Ngilu had nothing do with mining, as that is a function of the national government. “After the county chief toured expansive coal and other mineral zones and announced that resources would soon be extracted,residents are anxious that their interests are yet to be addressed by investors,” Mbai said. He said proper awareness must be created in mineral zones to prepare the residents to cope with disturbances including displacement, the MP said. “Concessions in blocs A and B have not even been done, yet the residents are being told they will be moved to eco-villages,” Mbai said...

The stand by the three legislators is likely to further delay extraction of coal and other minerals in the county. Last week, Ngilu announced she had consulted with other leaders on the issue before signing an agreement with Mining CS John Munyes. She has invited mining companies to apply for contracts. The governor says politicians opposing mining want to perpetuate poverty in Kitui. They lack vision, she said.