Kambe Ribe residents clash over cement firm operations

Rabai deputy county commissioner Joseph Lenkarie tries to calm a crowd down / BRIAN OTIENO

The disputed seven-man Community Development Agreement Committee / BRIAN OTIENO

A faction of Kambe Ribe residents opposed to Simba Cement Operations walk out of a meeting on Monday in protest / BRIAN OTIENO

A faction of Kambe Ribe residents opposed to Simba Cement Operations heckle at a meeting on Monday / BRIAN OTIENO

Residents of Kambe Ribe in Rabai, Kilifi County, are a divided lot. While some want Simba Cement to be allowed to resume operations, others are against it.

A meeting meant to iron out the issues and form a Community Development Agreement Committee (CDAC) on Monday ended in disarray after a faction of those opposed to its operations walked out midway in protest.

Some protested the manner in which the seven-member CDAC, meant to represent them in engagements with the cement company, was formed.

A section of environmentalists and human rights defenders are also unsatisfied with a committee, disowning one of the members, Milton Mwazani, who was supposed to represent the civil society in the committee.

The civil society, including Haki Madini Kenya and the Kilifi County Civil Society Network, said they did not sit down to elect Mwazani.

Instead, they want Neema Nyamvula Mwadena as their CSO representative in the committee.

The anti-Simba Cement faction was opposed to the reopening of a quarry that had been ordered closed by Mining CS Hassan Joho in July.

They claimed a number of issues have not been met by the company, and thus it should not be allowed to continue operations, which they say affects their livelihood.

“Our homes have not been repaired. The cracks caused by the mining blasts in the quarry are still wide open. We have neither been compensated nor had our homes repaired. How can they purport to resume operations?” Agnes Makuchoga, a resident, said.

The anti-Simba Cement faction claimed they have been denied jobs at the factory and that the lorries to and from the quarry have affected the road.

Rabai deputy county commissioner Joseph Lenkarie tried to plead with the residents to allow the quarry operations to go on, saying the operations have been stopped for a long time, denying casuals the much-needed monies to pay school fees for their children.

“We don’t want our company to make losses. For three months this company has not been operating while still paying workers,” Lenkarie said.

Rabai subcounty police commander David Kabiru insisted the committee was legally elected

“There is nothing that has gone wrong. Your opinions and needs have been met. The committee, we can say, is legally elected, meaning it will represent the whole Kambe Ribe community and not two people,” Kabiru said.

He called on the residents to channel all their concerns about Simba Cement through the CDAC, instead of barricading roads in protests.

“This is an area known for its peace. But of late there has been some noise. Let us not let our peace be breached,” Kabiru said.

But the anti-Simba Cement faction would not hear any word on the reopening of the quarries until all their demands are met.

They eventually walked out of the meeting before barricading the road leading to the chief’s camp.

However, Simba Cement human resource manager Erastus Musyoka said the company has taken note of all the concerns of the residents and will work towards solving them.

Musyoka said the biggest stumbling block has been the lack of a CDAC, making engagements with the community difficult.

“According to the Mining Act, the CDAC is a key committee that determines what development the community can get from a firm.

“The development will be financed by the one per cent that will come from the company,” Musyoka said.

He expressed optimism that the misunderstanding surrounding the operations of the cement company will soon be ironed out and locals will start benefiting from the company’s corporate social responsibility.

He said the company has held several meetings with the residents in a bid to listen to their requests.

“Now we see residents have understood the responsibility of the CDAC, and we hope going forward we will work together in harmony,” Musyoka said.

He said the Kambe Ribe community is part of the Simba Cement company.

“Anyone who feels aggrieved, we will sit down with them and iron out the issues they feel hurt them,” Musyoka said.

INSTANT ANALYSIS:

Simba Cement is one of the leading brands of high-quality cement produced by the National Cement Company Limited (NCCL), part of Narendra Raval’s Devki Group empire.

Mining CS Hassan Joho was under pressure last year to revoke the company’s mining license, but he pushed back.

Kambe Ribe residents want Simba Cement to do more of their corporate social responsibility, starting with tarmacking the road their lorries use to and from the quarry and giving more locals jobs, a matter the company is working to fulfill.