Kenya has taken a significant step in curbing illegal mining by inaugurating the Mining Police Unit, a specialized force aimed at addressing the growing threat of mineral smuggling. Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs, Ali Hassan Joho, emphasized that illegal mining is a transnational crime impacting the nation’s economic growth.
Speaking during the launch, Joho noted that despite Kenya’s wealth in mineral deposits, the sector contributes only 1% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In 2023, legal artisanal and small-scale mining alone brought in Ksh 30 billion, accounting for over half of the nation’s mining output.
The new Mining Police Unit, led by Hadi Ali, includes officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and other agencies. The unit aims to tackle illegal mining and mineral smuggling, which have been thriving on the international black market. Kenya will collaborate with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to recover stolen minerals and prosecute offenders. Through Interpol’s Project ENACT, Kenyan law enforcement will receive technical support and access to advanced analytical tools.
Joho highlighted key mining hotspots such as Migori, Kakamega, Transmara, and the gold-rich Dabel area in northern Kenya. He revealed that significant amounts of gold mined in Illo are sold illegally within Kenya or smuggled into Ethiopia for export to the Middle East.
To reform the sector, the government lifted a 2019 moratorium on artisanal mining in October 2023. This move was accompanied by stringent measures, including the closure of 3,000 illegal entities, a nationwide mineral geo-survey, and a revenue-sharing framework. Joho affirmed the government’s target to increase the mining sector’s GDP contribution to over 10% by 2030 through mineral development and value addition.
Key initiatives to boost the sector include the reopening of the Voi Gemstone Centre, the Kakamega Gold Refinery, a granite processing plant in Vihiga, and the Kisii Soapstone Value Addition Centre. Additionally, the National Mining Corporation has been established as the government’s investment arm in the sector, poised to transform mining into a key pillar of Kenya’s economy.
