A nationwide geophysical survey was completed by the national government, which identified 970 mineral indications.
Salim Mvuyra, Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs, stated that his ministry had identified 15 counties with high potential for large deposits, which will be subjected to additional studies to inform exploration decisions.
“We have just concluded the geophysical survey process and we have done mapping in all 47 counties and we have got 970 mineral indications and we are going to roll out ground truthing with 15 counties to start with,” he said.
He said this in Kilifi town where he announced that the county was endowed with valuable minerals.
The aerial data collection that started in April 2021 and was completed in June 2022 during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration and covered 538,420-kilometer squares on shore, brings to an end a 30-year journey that is set to enable the country to join the league of nations that deal in minerals.
The 15 counties include Kitui, Kilifi, Embu, Taita Taveta, Tana River, Isiolo, Makueni, Kwale, West Pokot, Homa Bay, Turkana, Samburu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Kericho where minerals such as copper, graphite, manganese, iron ore, coltan, base metals, nickel chromite, lead, zinc, rare earth elements, uranium, thorium and nickel cobalt were traced.
The discovery comes in the wake of investors setting up camp in Kilifi County for mineral business.
CMKI Mining Investment Kenya Company Limited, a Chinese mining firm recently set up its plant in Magogoni area in Jaribuni ward, Ganze Sub County to start mining manganese.
Mr Sharif Adam, a foreman with the company said that at least 30 local youth will be employed in the first phase of the project and thereafter the number will go up.
“The employment opportunities will reduce petty crimes in the area such as stealing of goats as youth will now be engaged economically,” he said urging all who will be employed to work hard.
The Managing Director of CMKI Mining Investment Kenya Limited Wang Bingtao said that they will continue helping the community as the business gets better.
He added that the company will operate in the area for more than ten years and more people will be employed.
“This is the first step before we set up fully because water is an essential commodity for the community and us. We will work hard to make a profit so that we can give them more things,” he said.
Mr Mvuyra also said that his ministry was also working with communities to ensure artisanal miners are well protected in business adding that artisanal mining committees in various counties will be revived and organized into cooperative societies.
“We also want to inspire the mining sector by recognizing artisanal miners whom we are going to organize into cooperative societies so that they can sustainably gain from their work,” he said.
The ministry will also launch the Mineral Value addition and Processing Policy before June this year.
The sharing of mining royalties has been a challenge to the government as all the royalties are deposited in the exchequer making the counties and committees lose out on their share.
