Before you vote: The truth about mineral royalties

Lokichar trading centre in Turkana County on June 28, 2015. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

“We know that the people of Taita Taveta are producers of minerals. We have a Bill that we passed in Parliament. Uhuru has refused to sign it into law, of ensuring that the returns from the minerals benefit the locals.”
- NASA Co-Principal Moses Wetang'ula in Taita Taveta on June 9

In 2015, President Uhuru Kenyatta declined to assent to the Mining Bill, because the National Assembly had passed it without involving the Senate, but assented to the Bill in 2016, after the Senate had been involved.

The Mining Act apportioned 70 per cent of revenues received to the national Government, 20 per cent to county governments and 10 per cent to the community where the mineral is located.

However, the Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Bill 2015 was the subject of a disagreement because President Kenyatta refused to sign it after Parliament had passed it, preferring that the share of royalties received by local communities fall to five per cent instead of the 10 per cent that was originally in the Bill.

Petroleum Ministry Principal Secretary Andrew Kamau has argued in favour of five per cent.

The Bill remained unassented to as Parliament adjourned.