Wrangles intensify over land earmarked for Sh11b iron ore plant in Voi

A row is brewing between Taita Taveta county government, three ranch factions and artisanal miners over the allocation of 14,500 acres to Devik Group of Companies to extract minerals for its Sh11 billion steel factory at Manga trading centre in Voi.

The management of Kishushe Ranching Cooperative Society where iron ore mining is concentrated has granted a 45-year lease of 14,500 cares to tycoon Narendra Raval to extract iron ore.

According to documents in our possession, the society through its officials authorised to lease the disputed land to Devki Steel Limited from December 1, 2024 with an automatic renewal at a consideration of Sh100 for every tonne of iron ore extracted from the land and a further Sh50,000 per month for the entire land from the date of commencement of the commercial mining and extraction of iron ore.

Lease documents seen by The Standard have been signed by one society faction led by Danson Mwandoto and some members of his group. Mwandoto’s group is recognised by the county executive as bonafide officials.

There are two other groups that have been claiming to be rightful managers of the over 60,000 ace society that has constantly been embroiled in management crisis.

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One of the factions is led by a former secondary Principal Chombo Shete and has a title deed while the other by Matlida Mwangondi.

Last week, senior officials of the Devki Company were blocked from accessing the plot by one of the factions forcing police to be deployed to protect them.

Devki has already pegged the area and was currently mobilising machinery to start work but the investor has since faced resistance despite police deployment.

Police said the officials were chased away by a rival group as tension ran high. Taita sub county Police Commander Kibwana Mwatosha said he was forced to deploy security personnel in the affected areas to protect lives and property.

“We will not allow anybody to compromise peace and stability in the area. The only solution to the wrangles is to dissolve all the wrangling factions to pave the way for accountable and transparent leadership,” said Mwatosha.

Mwangondi said they will not allow Deviki to extract minerals in the ranch saying the investor is supposed to buy raw materials from artisanal miners as earlier agreed.

The ranch official claimed that the investor will drive artisanal miners out of their work and economic livelihood.

She clarified that the investor was building the steel plant to buy materials from locals as earlier agreed and any attempt to deprive locals of their mining rights and economic livelihoods will be resisted at all cost.

“We will not allow the investor to extract iron ore from the area. Let the investor buy raw materials from artisanal miners,” Mwanondi told a consultative meeting convened by National Government Administrative officials (NGAO) in Wundanyi town.

Mwandawiro Mbela, a former ranch chairperson, told the meeting that the investor was earlier given a two-year lease prospective rights.

He said after expiring of the lease, the investor did not come back to seek for a consent to extract iron ore. “We will not allow the investor and the county government to break the law and we are demanding for the immediate revocation of the 45-year-land lease. We are bonafide officials of the ranch with a title deed and we were not involved in the issuance of the lease,” said Mbela

“The issues have also been complicated by the county government decision to take sides on the disputed land,” he added.

At the charged consultative meeting, Agriculture and Cooperatives county Executive Committee Member Dawson Katuu said wrangling over the society leadership has become a concern to potential investors.

While denying reports that the county administration had been taking sides on the emotive issues, the CECM directed that a special annual general meeting will be held within 21 days to help end leadership wrangles.

“We are very much concerned about wrangling over leadership at the society and we have ordered for a special AGM and we will not take sides. What we want is to put in place an accountable and transparent leadership,” stated Katuu.

Governor Andrew Mwadime disclosed that his administration allocated the investor 500 acres of land and issued him with a title to put up the steel factory at manga area near Voi town.

“The new project is the first of its kind in the county and will push the county to the next level in development. It is a game changer and its implementation is a major step towards realizing wealth and employment creation in the county and should be supported by all,” said the governor.

Raval said the project will require over 100,000 metric tonnes of iron ore per month for operation and is expected to have a major economic impact on the local community.