Kenya has become the latest frontline in the global scramble for rare minerals, with Mrima Hill on the country’s southern coast emerging as one of Africa’s richest deposits of rare earth elements — key components in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and advanced electronics.
The 157-hectare forest in Kwale County is estimated to hold mineral deposits worth over US$62 billion, according to earlier studies by Cortec Mining Kenya, a subsidiary of UK- and Canada-based Pacific Wildcat Resources. The site contains niobium, rare earths, and other strategic minerals vital to steelmaking, aerospace, and clean-tech industries.
The discovery has drawn intense international interest amid rising efforts to secure alternative supply chains for critical minerals dominated by China.
In June, Marc Dillard, then interim U.S. ambassador to Kenya, toured Mrima Hill as part of Washington’s push to establish sustainable access to Africa’s rare earths.
Meanwhile, the South China Morning Post reported that Chinese nationals had also attempted to visit the area but were turned away by local guards. Adding to the contest, an Australian consortium involving RareX and Iluka Resources has announced plans to explore the site, while land speculators and investors are already converging on nearby coastal villages.
For local residents — mainly from the Digo community — the growing global attention has stirred both hope and anxiety. Mrima Hill is considered sacred land, home to ancestral graves, shrines, and medicinal plants integral to the community’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
“People come here with big cars, but we turn them away,” said Juma Koja, a local forest guard. “I do not want my people to be exploited again.”
Others see opportunity in the renewed interest. “Why should we die poor while we have minerals?” asked Domitilla Mueni, a farmer preparing her land for potential development.
The community’s unease is compounded by Kenya’s troubled mining history. In 2013, the government revoked Cortec Mining’s license over environmental concerns and alleged irregularities — sparking a years-long legal battle. Cortec claimed political interference and alleged corruption, claims the state denied.
To address corruption and restore investor confidence, Kenya’s Ministry of Mining has rolled out a new round of sector reforms.
The Mineral Rights Board (MRB) recently ordered all mining and exploration firms to reapply for their licenses, leading to the rejection of over 900 applications (91%) for non-compliance with the Mining Act (2016).
Officials describe the move as part of a “sector cleanup,” but investors say the process has been opaque and overly punitive.
“We have spent years fulfilling all the requirements, only to be told to start over again,” said one investor who requested anonymity. “This creates uncertainty and discourages serious players from investing in Kenya’s mineral potential.”
The government says its reforms include:
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A digital mining cadastre system to enhance transparency,
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Stricter environmental and governance safeguards, and
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Tax incentives to attract credible investors.
However, the MRB’s sweeping disqualifications underscore the lingering tension between reform efforts and investor confidence.
Kenya’s mineral moment comes as African nations reposition their mining policies amid the global energy transition. From Zambia’s copper and cobalt to Namibia’s lithium and the DRC’s rare earths, Africa is increasingly central to the world’s green economy.
The African Union’s Green Minerals Strategy urges member states to add value locally rather than exporting raw ores — a shift supported by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to build regional value chains that keep more mineral wealth within the continent.
“There’s a romantic view that mining is an easy way to get rich,” observed Prof. Daniel Weru Ichang’i, a retired economic geologist from the University of Nairobi. “But corruption and weak governance make it risky. If Kenya wants to benefit, it must strengthen institutions and put national interests first.”
As the race for critical minerals intensifies, Kenya now stands at a crossroads — balancing the allure of foreign capital against the rights of local communities, environmental stewardship, and the credibility of its mineral governance systems.
Whether Mrima Hill becomes a model of sustainable development or another cautionary tale will depend on how effectively Kenya navigates the global contest for its subterranean riches.
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