By Aoma Keziah,
Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura on Monday, joined other government officials during the Western Region development tour in Kakamega County, where he took time to explain the progress of key projects and respond to questions surrounding the large gold find recently confirmed in the Isulu–Bushiangala area.
In his public address, he assured residents that the discovery, valued at more than six hundred billion shillings, will not shut them out of the benefits. The country’s mining law clearly sets out how earnings from such resources are shared.
“ Most of the revenue will go to the national government, while Kakamega County receives a considerable share and the host community is guaranteed its portion. The company mining the gold is required to invest part of its yearly income in local development, guided by a committee drawn from the area. These funds are meant for improvements such as feeder roads, learning facilities, health centres, water supply and environmental protection,” he stated.
He also addressed concerns about resettlement, noting that no household will be moved without proper compensation.
“ Teams from the relevant departments are already on the ground to guide the process. The project will move forward in a fair and transparent manner and the wider economy stands to gain once production stabilises,” Mwaura continued to say.
The government spokesperson further highlighted the broader agenda the Kenya Kwanza administration is pursuing across the country. He said the government intends to push development to every corner of Kenya, with emphasis on reducing poverty, opening up local enterprise and supporting farming, trade and training. According to him, the goal is to ensure that communities see practical improvements in their daily lives, not just policy announcements from Nairobi.
He pointed out that the wider Western region covering Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga and Busia, has seen a significant rise in both new and ongoing public works.
“More than seventy projects are currently active, touching on road links, bridges, airstrips, water schemes, affordable homes, industrial parks and power connections,” underscored Mwaura.
The tour, he said, gives citizens a chance to see how far these plans have come and what remains to be done, while also encouraging them to take pride in developments shaping their counties.
In conclusion, he urged the residents to stay engaged as the various projects advance, saying that cooperation between the public and government is essential if the region is to fully benefit from the ongoing investments.