In reference to mining Royalties, Mining Cabinet Secretary Hon. Mvurya has revealed that since the enactment of the Mining Act in 2016, there had been no distribution of mineral royalties until now.

Speaking during the Updating of the 13th Parliamentary Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry, and Mining on Progress in the Mining Sector Retreat at The Marina English Point, Mombasa, the Cabinet Secretary disclosed that a framework had been established, resulting in the release of 2.9 billion Kenyan Shillings to 32 Counties, representing an accumulation from 2016 to date.

“We are now working closely with the county Governments to make sure that investors pay their dues and from this Financial Year, there will be consistency in sharing the Mineral Royalties, 20 percent to the national Government and 10 percent to the local Communities,” Mvurya said.

He said that 14 strategic minerals are of high value, energy transition, citing examples of coal tan, copper, nickel, lithium, and graphite, and 56 which are industrial and for construction like limestone, titanium, and base metals.

“Kenya is now attracting investors in mining, buoyed by the regulations that we have been putting in place, including making sure that people get licenses. We have received more than 1200 applications,” he noted.

“We now have fluorspar mining investment worth Sh4.8 billion, gold processing investment worth Sh5.8 billion as well as granite processing worth Sh2.5 billion while titanium mining has been going on in the country for the last 10 years,” he added.

He said that they are now focusing on enhancing the marketing efforts with a keen emphasis on identifying key minerals and issuing expressions of interest to attract additional investors.