NAIROBI, Kenya – More than 500 delegates from across the continent have gathered at the Argyle Grand Hotel Nairobi for the Kenya Mining Investment Conference, as African leaders, investors, policymakers, and academics intensify discussions on reforms aimed at unlocking greater value from the continent’s vast mineral wealth.

The high-level conference comes at a time when global demand for critical minerals is projected to rise sharply toward 2030, driven by the clean energy transition and rapid technological advancement. Despite Africa holding over 30 percent of the world’s critical minerals, the continent captures only about 1 percent of the total value generated from these resources—largely due to continued reliance on exporting raw minerals instead of processing them locally.

Opening the conference on Tuesday, William Ruto emphasized the urgent need for structural reforms in the mining sector, noting that Kenya has more than 970 known mineral deposits but continues to earn less than its potential because of raw mineral exports.

President Ruto said the government is actively restructuring the sector through stronger policies designed to promote value addition, industrial growth, and the retention of economic benefits within the country.

“We must move beyond extraction and focus on beneficiation, local processing, and industrialization if we are to fully harness the wealth beneath our soil,” he said.

Hassan Ali Joho echoed the call for reform, stressing the importance of clear regulations, support for artisanal and small-scale miners, and the creation of an enabling environment for private investment.

He said the broader goal is to build a mining sector that generates employment opportunities while delivering shared economic prosperity.

Among the key reform areas under discussion are public-private partnerships to power Kenya’s mining future, strategies to reinforce investor confidence, formalization of artisanal mining, improved access to financing, stronger safety standards, and the development of local mineral processing industries for broad-based economic impact.

Environmental sustainability has also emerged as a central theme at the conference, with stakeholders highlighting the need for land rehabilitation, responsible waste management, and the safe handling of hazardous chemicals to ensure long-term ecological protection.

Delegates are equally focused on the human dimension of mining, including the protection of workers, improved working conditions, and ensuring that mining operations contribute meaningfully to local communities through employment and social development.

Academic institutions are playing an increasingly critical role in shaping the future of the sector. Taita Taveta University, recognized as a pioneer in mining education in Kenya, is among the institutions represented at the conference.

The university offers specialized programs in mining and mineral processing, environmental engineering, and natural resource management, while also training artisanal miners across the country.

Its National Mining Institute, located within the university and launched by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, is expected to strengthen training, research, and technical capacity in the sector.

As deliberations continue, stakeholders are calling for stronger collaboration between governments, investors, communities, and academic institutions to build a mining industry that delivers economic value, safeguards the environment, and supports sustainable livelihoods across Africa.

The conference is widely seen as a critical platform for redefining Africa’s mining future at a time when the global race for critical minerals is accelerating.