The government has concluded an audit of licenses issued to investors in the mining sector.
The announcement was made by Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya.
Mvurya said State Department for Mining had been undertaking a comprehensive audit of all mineral rights holders with a view to cleaning existing data.
“With no new licenses being awarded, the government managed to find out all expired and inactive licenses within its register with a view to de-gazetting them hence freeing up areas for potential investors,” he told the Star.
The Cabinet Secretary however said a report of the audit will be made public in due course.
“We will now lift the moratorium and allow investors in the sector to apply for licenses,” he said.
In December 2019, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining received communication from the Head of Public Service communicating a decision by the National Security Council to halt the issuance of new mineral rights.
The letter intimated that the Council had considered that due to an ongoing national resource mapping exercise, there was a need for the government to halt issuance of new licences for exploration and mining.
“The rationale for the issuance of the moratorium was therefore to safeguard Kenya’s interests by developing the right data and eliminate speculation on the availability of substantial mineral deposits,” the CS explained.
Mvurya explained that the suspension would also allow the government to complete the mapping exercise without an influx of speculative mining licence applications that would have posed a threat to Kenya’s mining sector.
“The suspension was also informed by the need to address existing geological data gaps that have existed in the past without interference from private sector players.
"These gaps have resulted in losses as the government is solely reliant on the private sector for the provision of detailed geological data on mineral deposits upon application and grant of mineral rights,” he added.
The CS said the moratorium, gave the government an opportunity to institute reforms in the management and regulation of the mining sector.
Mvurya noted that the government has concluded the development of an in-house, in-country mineral licensing system, an online mining cadastral integrated with national institutions like Kenya Revenue Authority and E-Citizen.
He said the move will allow government broader control of all mineral rights and ensure the timely issuance of mineral rights as stipulated in the Mining Act 2016.