KarunaNews Story

In ancient caves beneath the black rocks of eastern Kenya, the Chonyi people whisper prayers, make offerings and summon spirits. But for the past five years, their impoverished community has been divided by a plan to bulldoze over 600 acres of land — including most of the caves — to make way for cement production. Beneath Chasimba is nearly 100 miles of ancient limestone which, heated and crushed into a fine powder and mixed with clay, becomes cement when water is added. Michael Njoroge, a Kenyan entrepreneur based in the US, worked with Super Cement, an Abu Dhabi-based firm, to back the $90 million venture. But a small group of residents and environmentalists pushed back, led by Dr. Mtana Lewa, a Chonyi elder, former member of parliament and conservationist. When in July 2024, Mashujaa received its first mining license, the coalition filed an appeal with Kenya’s National Environment Tribunal, halting operations before they could begin. This August, the court ruled in the residents’ favor, citing the caves’ cultural significance, rare ecosystems and a failure to properly consult the community about the project’s risks and benefits.