Kenyan opposition leader Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of using his visit to New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly to pursue a deal involving niobium and rare-earth mineral deposits at Mrima Hills in Kwale County. Gachagua made the allegation while addressing Kenyans in Kansas City, United States, on September 20. He claimed Ruto’s UNGA trip was intended to advance or finalise arrangements with American companies for the exploitation of the deposits.
The alleged deal involves mineral deposits worth trillions of Kenyan shillings, with Gachagua claiming that foreign companies would benefit from the resources while communities around Mrima Hills face economic difficulties. He also alleged that Ruto would personally benefit from the proposed arrangement, although he did not provide evidence to substantiate the claim. The allegations come amid ongoing discussions between Kenya and the United States over critical minerals.
US officials have expressed interest in supporting Kenya in developing local processing and other industries around its critical mineral resources, including the niobium and rare-earth deposits at Mrima Hill. According to Reuters, two US-based consortia and four other companies are competing to develop the site. The Kenyan government, however, has maintained that no mining licence has been issued for Mrima Hills.
Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho stated that the project had not reached the stage of granting a mining licence. Government records show that Mrima Hills has been designated for the award of mineral rights through a public tender. The State Department for Mining invited expressions of interest for the development of niobium, rare-earth elements and other minerals at the site.
The proposed development is facing a legal challenge, with the Centre for Litigation Trust filing a petition at the High Court in Kwale in June seeking to suspend implementation of the proposed Kenya-US mining agreement. The organisation argues that Parliament, the Kwale County Government and affected communities should be involved and has sought disclosure of the agreement’s terms.
Mrima Hills has attracted attention due to the reported scale and strategic importance of its mineral deposits, believed to contain niobium and rare-earth elements used in various industries. Government and industry estimates have placed the potential value of the deposits in the billions of US dollars, with Kenyan reports citing figures in the region of Sh8 trillion.
Gachagua has called on Kenyans, particularly residents of Kwale, to closely scrutinise how the country’s mineral resources are managed. He is considering legal action over the proposed exploitation of the deposits. The dispute centres on the future development of Mrima Hills and the terms under which Kenya could partner with foreign investors.
Key points
- Gachagua alleges Ruto used his UNGA trip to secure a mineral deal.
- The Kenyan government maintains that no mining licence has been issued for Mrima Hills.
- A legal challenge has been filed against the proposed Kenya-US mining agreement.
