"Collapse of fluorspar miner leaves Elgeyo residents desolate"

The collapse of Kenya Fluorspar Company, the single company that has been in operation in Elgeyo Marakwet county for over 50 years has impacted the socio-economic welfare of the residents negatively. The multibillion-shilling mining company today is a pale shadow of itself after it wind up operations almost six years ago over what the management attributed to a prolonged global slump in commodity prices. Fluorspar, used in the manufacture of fluoride for cooling plants, was for decades mined in the 970- acre swathe of Kimwarer, Keiyo South sub-county, forming part of the riches of Kerio Valley basin.

But the company that was the backbone of economic livelihood of thousands of residents through employment and business opportunities is just but a name. Machinery that once roared with life now rusts away in the compound that is today bushy. Thousands of workers who were rendered jobless are faced with serious socio-economic challenges...

Leaders termed the exit as a ‘calculated move to avoid paying compensation to the displaced families and evade remitting tax to the government’. “Forensic audit need to be carried out on the company books of account to establish whether it has been remitting taxes,” demanded Micah Kigen, one of the leaders. He demanded for implementation of a taskforce report that recommended the government to compensate for families displaced from the mining field. “Both the government and the company need to offer better compensation for the families to empower them to earn decent livelihood,” said Mr Kigen.