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State lifts ban on traditional and customary mining

Miners were encouraged to form co-operatives or groups; which will in turn receive group permits.

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by JAMES MBAKA

News03 October 2023 - 17:55
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In Summary


  • This will enhance accountability and formalization of the work of an estimated 800,000 artisanal miners in Kenya.
  • The intervention comes in tandem with a more transparent and competitive licensing system which will protect Kenya’s national interests.
An open qaurry in Ramey,Garissa sub county.

The government on Tuesday made a raft of reforms to the administration of the mining sector.

The cabinet agreed to lift the ban on traditional and customary mining.

"To give dignity to the work of every citizen, cabinet vacated the prohibition on mining using traditional and customary means known as Artisanal Mining," the dispatch read in part.

According to the government, the move will help the administration’s agenda to position mining and the extractives sector as a springboard for industrialization, job creation and export development.

The interventions were preceded by the nationwide airborne geophysical survey.

The cabinet approved a proposal that the miners be encouraged to form co-operatives or groups; which will in turn receive group permits.

This will enhance accountability and formalization of the work of an estimated 800,000 artisanal miners in Kenya.

"As a pathway to unlocking the potential of the nation’s mining sector, cabinet authorized the partial lifting of the moratorium on the issuance of new mining rights effected by the cabinet in the year 2019."

The intervention comes in tandem with a more transparent and competitive licensing system which will protect Kenya’s national interests.

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