‘We Are Also Victims,’ Scrap Metal Dealers Tell President Kenyatta Amidst Ban

KIRINYAGA,Kenya, Feb, 12 – Scrap metal dealers from the Mt Kenya region have now joined their colleagues from the rest of the country calling for the immediate revocation of a ban on the trade.

The Kenya Iron and Scrap Metal Association in Mount Kenya says that little or no consultation was made with stakeholders and as a result the livelihood of thousands is in jeopardy.

“We are requesting the president to review the directive since it has affected our personal lives and the economy in general,” said a scrap metal dealer in kirinyaga.

Speaking at Kutus, Kirinyaga County, members of the association say that millions of shillings worth of stock is lying in stores despite no visible progress on when the moratorium will be lifted by the state.

“It is sad what happened but we are also being victimized for something we did not commit…now we can barely afford to support our families,” said Joseph Mwangi, a scrap metal trader.

“There is a trickle down effect on other businesses , like the hardware stores which works closely with us,” said Gabriel Munyutu,a scrap metal trader.

President Uhuru Kenyatta instituted a nationwide moratorium on the trade.

The move is part of  government efforts to tame illegal trade that has coincided with a recent wave of vandalism of public installations across the country.

The President said the moratorium will stay in place until after the Government puts in place adequate measures to effectively police the sourcing, trade and export of scrap metal warning that those found culpable for vandalism of state infrastructure will be dealt with firmly.

While referring to recent vandalism of electricity transmission infrastructure, the Standard Gauge Railway and communication masts, President Kenyatta termed the acts as economic sabotage saying the Government won’t tolerate the destruction.

Members of the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) however say that the president was misled into issuing the directive.

Industrialisation PS Kirimi Kaberia was put on the spot by the legislators to explain why the move was instituted yet there already exist a law banning export of scrap metal.

Trade and Enterprise Development Cabinet Secretary Betty Maina and Attorney General Kihara Kariuki were equally accused of the blunder as Kaberia was put on the spot over his failure in implementing the law.

“The President recently said that he had stopped any dealings in the scrap metal, including exports, yet there is a law that was passed by this House to regulate the sector. Please go and tell your CS, Betty Maina, to read the law. Also tell her that her office embarrassed the President,” said Garissa Township MP Aden Duale.

The legislators called on the PS and the Cabinet Secretary to be fired.

According to legislators, the Scrap Metal Act, passed in 2015, sought to regulate the handling and export of scrap metal, the registration and licensing of all scrap metal dealers.

It further calls for the establishment of a Scrap Metal Council to streamline the management of the sector.

According to excerpts from the act, the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Industrialisation can upon fulfilment of supply in the local market allow export.

The committee’s chair Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi directed Kaberia to file a comprehensive statement and report back to them.