Kenya Government Decriminalizes Artisanal Mining, Projects Revenue Increase to Sh15 Billion

Taita-Taveta, Kenya—A turnaround in policy has the Kenyan government looking at artisanal mining as a critical component of economic development, a far cry from its prior derogatory view of these miners.

According to Kenya News Agency, Chair of the Taita-Taveta Artisanal Miners Association, this shift marks the end of an era characterized by harassment and arbitrary arrests of artisanal miners, who were once disparagingly referred to as Zurura.

In a ceremony held on Friday, President William Ruto officially opened the Voi Gemology, Value Addition, and Marketing Centre in Taita-Taveta County. The Head of State announced new legislation that legitimizes artisanal mining. “Artisanal mining is now a legitimate hustle. It will no longer be viewed as a criminal enterprise, and miners can now earn a living without fear,” said the President.

Constructed at a cost of Sh50 million and completed in 2016, the center includes state-of-the-art gemology and lapidary laboratories, a jewelry section, an exhibition hall for auctions, and dealers’ booths. It aims to provide artisanal miners with the means to accurately grade and price gemstones, ensuring fair transactions.

The government has also issued a directive requiring all gemstone transactions to occur within the gemology center. Mining Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi stated that the purpose of the center is to protect artisanal miners from exploitation by dealers who have, in the past, purchased precious stones at undervalued prices.

In a bid to further formalize the sector, the government is supporting the formation of miners’ cooperative societies. These entities will be given the unique opportunity to mine gemstones within the Tsavo National Park. Mwangi highlighted that only artisanal miners in cooperative societies will be permitted to mine in the park, allowing for ease of control and supervision.

Financially, the changes have been promising. In 2023, the revenue from the mining sector jumped to Sh3.7 billion, up from Sh1.9 billion the previous year. The government anticipates that this figure will grow to Sh15 billion, significantly increasing the sector’s contribution to the national GDP. Mwangi also revealed the government’s broader plans for the mining sector, including the creation of value-added centers for various minerals and the recruitment of enforcement personnel to tighten control and revenue collection.

These moves come amid a broader wave of policy reforms in the mining sector, following the completion of a national aerial geophysical survey, which showed Kenya has 970 mineral occurrences. With ongoing projects, the state projects it will unlock billions in revenue in the coming years.