Kenya is relatively endowed with mineral resources compared to other African countries. Mineral resources in Kenya include gold, iron ore, talc, soda ash, some rare-earth minerals, and gemstones. Gold is mostly restricted to the westernmost part of the country, while areas around Mombasa host limestone, niobium, iron ore, gemstones, and salt. The extractives sector, which has only emerged since 2016, is targeted to grow to 10 percent of GDP from its current contribution of just 1 percent to Kenya's national income, and less than 2 percent of export earnings. However, the capacity to protect human rights, safeguard the environment, and enhance safety and health principles has not kept pace with mining sector growth.
The Mining and Minerals Policy (2016) and the Mining Act (2016) ushered action towards extractive sector governance in Kenya. The Act addresses, for the first time, challenges and governance gaps in artisanal mining operations and offers an initial path towards formalization and regularization of the sector. Despite being a primary source of livelihood for 140,000 miners and indirectly supporting over 800,000 people, artisanal mining was illegal in Kenya prior to the passing of the country’s Mining Act in 2016.
Site inspections and issuance of permits to artisanal operations were decentralized to county level and fall under the jurisdiction of county-based Artisanal Mining Committees (AMCs). Improving mining governance in Kenya depends, therefore, on strengthening the role and capacities of the AMCs as well as miners’ associations, cooperatives, and other grassroots entities.
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)
/1x.jpeg?auto=webp)