1. SPEECH ON THE 4TH ANNUAL MINING GALA AWARDS ENHANCING INVESTOR-COMMUNITY CO-EXISTENCE IN THE MINING SECTOR IN KWALE COUNTY, KENYA BY PROF. DR. HALIMU SHAURI
THEME:
CELEBRATING THE GAINS AND WORKING TOWARDS INCREASED LOCAL CONTENT AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

2. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
I wish to register my deep appreciation to the organizers and sponsors of this gala for inviting me and for the opportunity to share some thoughts and ideas on how to enhance invester-community relations in the mining sector
Allow me to begin by saying that business should not only be responsible morally to the stakeholders but also to the society, environment and towards a sustainable planet at large.
To achieve this goal, businesses should behave ethically & contribute to economic development while improving the Quality of Life of the workforce & their families ,local communities and the society at large.

3. DEAR ESTEEMED AUDIENCE
One significant ethical means could be seen through encouraging companies to promote human rights, democracy, community improvement and sustainable development objectives.
I personally encourage companies and investors to go above and beyond what the law requires them to do to contribute to a better society and cleaner environment. From Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for example to include Health Impact Assessment (HIA)

4. Communities should be involved in;
ESTEEMED PARTICIPANTS, without the involvement of the local community whatever the Corporate Social Responsibility Programs focus on can not achieve its goal.
Communities should be involved in;
assessment,
planning,
implementation,
monitoring and evaluation inform of social audits
Community participation should be based on assessments of existing structures which can be used to support participatory development methodologies

5. DEAR PARTICIPANTS Community participation is critical as it:
Creates the we feeling among the community
Helps people to get utmost satisfaction.
It is useful in reaching the acceptance of the community and ownership of the project
Creates a good image for the company to the community
People get satisfied with the feeling of recognition.
Creates a positive attitude about the organization
Elicits support for the project and promotes investor-community harmonious and synergistic co-existence

6. DEAR INVITED GUESTS
Investment in the mining sector is a means of engagement not only for business profits by the investor but also through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to:
Mitigate extreme poverty and hunger.
Achieve universal Primary education.
Promote gender equality and empowerment of women.
Reduce child mortality.
Improve maternal health.
Combat HIV/ AIDS, Malaria & other fatal diseases.
Ensure environmental sustainability.
Develop a global partnership etc.

7. ESTEEMED LISTNERS
As you are aware the world has undergone a paradigm shift from Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) to Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs)
In this shift allow me to say that development in the mining sector should respect Business Ethics, values and principles for sustainable development
A company can only be successful when it adopts a culture that is open to ethical dialogue and practices that involve:
Accountability and transparency (Legal compliance).
Commitments to socio-economic development.
Environmental concerns.
Human rights.
Ethical leadership and integrity
Workers rights and welfare.
Market relations.
Sustainability.
Democracy and
Corporate governance

8. DEAR PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT
Corporations, public and private, must have a strong Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). A strong CSR:
Improves employees commitment and learning processes raising the skill level and effectiveness of employees.
Makes a company more attractive as employer and therefore attracts a larger number of higher qualified applicants
Green production processes
Ensures adherence to environmental standards enhances product safety
improved public perception of socially responsible companies increase their legitimacy
Promotes Human Health and
Peaceful co-existence

9. DEAR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN Allow me to conclude by saying that:
Incorporation of stakeholders’ expectations creates trust and improve relationships with external and internal stakeholders
With growing consumer demand for the implementation of social and environmental standards, companies certified based on international voluntary standards achieve price premiums
This also helps to avoid conflicts between companies, employees, communities and the society and thereby reduces the risk of distraction and increases the stability of business operations

10. Thank ESTEEMED GUESTS, Allow me to stop with a quote that:
“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and only 5minutes to ruin it.” (Warren Buffet)
Thank Y O U