Former Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama has been forced to move to court after the government declined to issue him with an export licence for his mining company.

Muthama, who is also a NASA insider, has accused the Ministry of Mining of causing him huge losses after it unfairly denied him a permit to sell minerals outside the country.

Mining lease

Muthama owns Rockland Kenya Limited which mines and exports precious minerals.

According to the former Senator, his company was awarded a special mining lease in 1991 and the same was extended in 1996, and again renewed in 2012 to 2033.

He adds that Rockland Kenya Limited has complied with all requirements and paid tax and other fees to the government based on the exported minerals.

New conditions

The court papers show that Muthama's mining firm has not been able to export its minerals since September 2017 when then Mining CS Dan Kazungu introduced new conditions.

The NASA hard-liner's court case comes at a time when he has filed two other cases; one seeking to lift a government decision to cancel his passport, and another one withdrawing his gun licence.

Other NASA leaders who have faced perceived harassment from the state include Siaya Senator James Orengo and businessman Jimi Wanjigi.