KENYA'S MINING SECTOR UNDERGOES REFORMS TO BOOST REVENUE AND REGULATION.


BY BERNARD MULWA

Financial management and critical reforms in Kenya's mining sector are underway, announced Principal Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs, Elijah Mwangi, during a capacity-building seminar for regional mining officers at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development today.

In a press conference, Mwangi outlined the government’s strategic approach to monetizing mineral resources. The Ministry is actively mapping mineral resources, with a focus on twenty-four counties by the end of May. This initiative follows the national airborne geophysics survey that identified ninety-seven mineral occurrences, allowing the government to better understand and capitalize on its mineral wealth.

To regulate the sector, all scales of mining operations—small, medium, large, and artisanal—must adhere to existing regulations. Mwangi revealed that the Ministry has received 1,756 applications for mining licenses, which are at various stages of evaluation. The recently gazetted artisanal mining committees, numbering twenty-seven, are tasked with expediting the licensing process to curb illegal mining activities.

The formalization of artisanal miners into cooperatives has led to the review of six hundred applications, with expectations for prompt clearance. Capacity-building efforts for these committees ensure they understand the extent of their regulatory mandates.

Addressing illegal mining, Mwangi reported recent operations in April resulting in the arrest of thirty-eight individuals, both foreigners and locals, for illegal extraction and processing activities. The Ministry plans to extend these operations to all counties, with current efforts focused on Samburu County.

Efforts to enhance mineral testing capabilities are underway, with the Ministry procuring equipment worth six hundred million shillings to upgrade the main Madini House and establish testing laboratories nationwide. Additionally, discussions on value addition have led the Ministry to request land from county governments for setting up mineral processing plants.

To support these reforms, the Ministry has been allocated two hundred and seven million shillings from the exchequer to facilitate enforcement across all regions.

The ongoing reforms aim to position Kenya’s mining sector as a significant contributor to national revenue and ensure sustainable and regulated mining practices across the country.

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