Kenya is racing to finalise the digitisation of #data on owners of #mineral rights, location, the validity of permits and compliance with regulations, including payment of fees, to lay ground for President #WilliamRuto to lift the ban on prospecting permits.

Principal Secretary for Mining Elijah Mwangi says a secure mineral rights system will improve regulation of the sector activities, including new #exploration of ores, which has been on ice since November 2019.

The country, under the previous administration of President #UhuruKenyatta, stopped issuing prospecting licences in 2019 to allow fresh mapping of #mineralresources.

“We are working round the clock to see whether the issue of online [mining] cadastre, geophysical data as well as equipping and modernising the geological laboratory at Madini House are done,” Mwangi told Business Daily.

“If they are done then the #moratorium may be lifted. But, of course, it is the prerogative of the president to lift the moratorium. We may do everything, but that does not make the president lift it.”

The three-year-long moratorium has slowed new #investments in the sector, which contributes less than a percentage to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Dr. Ruto, who took over power last September, has pledged to unlock the potential of the sector and make it a key driver of Kenya’s growth under his administration.

Besides exploration, #Kenya has not renewed or issued new #mining licences since 2015 when then Mining minister Najib Balala revoked the licences of 65 companies, forcing mining firms to operate under a gazette notice. AFRICA and Kenya’s Potential are LIMITLESS. Kenya 🇰🇪 is an #AfCFTA member country. #UnitedUnderAfCFTA