President William Ruto has announced plans to ban the export of unprocessed gold as Kenya moves to expand local mineral processing and retain more value from its natural resources.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Speaking at Kisumu State Lodge in Nyanza, Ruto said the government would make it illegal to export gold unless it had been processed and passed through approved government channels.

“We’re going to make it illegal for anybody to export gold from Kenya if it’s not processed and through approved government channels,” Ruto said.

The President added that the policy would eventually cover other minerals mined in Kenya, in a bid to ensure the country adds value to its mineral resources before they are exported.

📌 What You Need to Know

The announcement comes as the government receives fresh bids from mining companies seeking to explore or extract gold and other precious metals across several counties.

The bids cover areas in Narok, West Pokot, Homa Bay, Kisii, Migori and Kitui, allowing members of the public to raise objections before the proposed mining activities proceed.

In Narok County, two bids have been submitted for gold mining licences covering a combined area of approximately 2.65 square kilometres, further highlighting interest in the country's gold deposits.

Another prospecting bid covers parts of Homa Bay, Kisii and Migori counties, spanning approximately 321.9 square kilometres. The applicant is seeking to explore for Group C precious metals.

Against this backdrop, the government plans to establish at least three gold refineries, with facilities planned in Kakamega and Nairobi to support the processing of gold locally.

The Central Bank of Kenya is also expected to have priority under a planned domestic gold-purchasing programme, giving the State a greater role in the buying and trading of gold produced in the country.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke