Scrap metal dealers hold demonstrations in Nairobi to protest ban imposed on industry
Scrap metal dealers have protested the ban imposed on the industry by holding a demonstration in Nairobi.
They burnt tyres and barricaded a section of the Cathedral Road in Upperhill, Nairobi demanding President Uhuru Kenyatta to lift the ban on scrap metal, saying they are suffering.
The traders also wanted the Values Added Tax (VAT) which they described as too high to be reduced.
Police were forced to lob teargas to disperse scrap metal dealers’ demonstration which turned violent.
Last month, the office of the Attorney General came up with new regulations that stated all scrap metal dealers will have to seek fresh licensing by the Scrap Metal Council.
The regulations that are derived from the Ministry of Trade and stakeholders’ recommendations on the control of the sector blamed for encouraging the vandalism of critical infrastructure also propose separate and special vetting of all copper dealers.
Only the government-owned Numerical Machining Complex will be allowed to buy scrap metal disposed of critical national infrastructure such as roads and railways under the regulations that are a prerequisite for the lifting of the moratorium on scrap metal trade announced by President Kenyatta on January 20, 2022.
Licensing of scrap metal dealers to start under new regulations attended by the scrap metal dealers and regulatory agencies in the sector warned that the lifting of the moratorium will be pegged on compliance with the new regulations.
“We are not going to allow the sector to continue operating in an unlicensed manner and no amount of political intimidation or pressure will make us abandon the resolve.
We are not building infrastructure for scrap metals vandals. We’d rather the scrap business died but we managed to protect our critical infrastructure,” the CS said.
Attorney-General Kihara Kariuki said he will advise the President against withdrawing the moratorium until the majority of the dealers complied with the regulations.
“As long as I am the AG of this country, I will not advise the President to lift the moratorium until we have the regulations in place.”
According to Matiang’i, a special multi-agency unit had been set up to protect power lines and other critical installations.
Under deterrence measures announced in January, vandals will be treated as economic saboteurs and charged under the counter-terrorism laws.
Trade CS Betty Maina said only 20 scrap metal dealers are officially licensed in the country while 91 others have their applications pending.
Over 3,900 other operators are essentially operating in the sector illegally.
