Embu scrap metal dealers have lauded the state's efforts to curb illegal operations in the business saying the move will improve the sector.
Association chairman Gabriel Munyutu on Tuesday said they won't allow the business to take place until proper guidelines are put in place.
"We have put a moratorium on the export, buying and selling of any scrap material until we have proper guidelines that will ensure that material is not coming from the hard-won investments that Kenyan people have made," he said.
On January 20, President Uhuru Kenyatta banned the scrap metal business in Kenya over what he termed as deliberate destruction of public infrastructure.
He said sourcing of the materials led to vandalism of roads and power transmission lines. The materials were later traced to warehouses belonging to scrap metal dealers.
Munyutu lauded the government's step of issuing a directive for all scrap metal dealers to have active associations.
He said the move will do away with dealers targeting illegal operations in the sector.
Further, the chairman said associations will help vet any scrap metal dealers who relocate from other regions.
"We support the idea of the association because this will shape our operations," he said.
Munyutu said many scrap metal dealers in Embu were rendered jobless.
He however said they will make sure that they register fully with the Ministry of Industrialisation, so that they are compliant with the law to give them a safe operating ground.
Embu West deputy county commissioner Mercy Gatobu said they have formed a county multi-agency committee that will be responsible for vetting scrap metal dealers.
The process, she said will ensure all dealers in the county are compliant with the law and operate within the set guidelines by the government.
Embu Industrial Development officer Dominic Lindiku said the government has set proper guidelines that will weed out illegal scrap metal dealers.
Lindiku said once a scrap metal dealer obtains a registration license from the Ministry of Industrialisation, it will be a must for the dealer to register with a scrap metal association within the area of trade.
The dealers are supposed to pay Sh50,000 to obtain a license.
"The license fee set under the Scrap Metal Act of 2015 can be revised once they petition and come up with a Memorandum of Understanding, then engage the scrap metal counsel to reduce the fee," Lindiku said.
The industrialisation development officer in charge of Embu and Kirinyaga counties said the association will ensure no dealer engages in vandalism of important projects.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
