Tension in Kwale as mining threatens sacred Mrima Hill Forest

A simmering conflict is unfolding in Kwale County as proposed mining activities around the revered Mrima Hill Forest spark outrage among local communities, conservationists, and cultural leaders.

According to the Daily Nation, at the heart of the dispute is the tension between the pursuit of valuable mineral resources and the preservation of a site deeply rooted in spiritual, cultural, and ecological significance.

Mrima Hill, located in the coastal region of Kenya, is not only a biodiversity hotspot but also home to sacred Kaya forests, historically protected by the Mijikenda community.

These forests are considered holy sites where cultural rites and traditional ceremonies are conducted, and are currently awaiting official gazettement as national monuments.

Recent interest in the area has been driven by the discovery of rare earth elements and niobium, minerals of high economic value used in advanced technologies.

Mining companies, backed by government permits in some cases, have moved to conduct exploration and extraction, prompting immediate resistance from the local population.

Elders and traditional leaders, such as Mzee Ali Mohamed Mwatsimbu of Kaya Chigongoni, have vowed to defend Mrima Hill “spiritually, physically and legally,” arguing that mining in the forest is not just an environmental threat but also a cultural desecration.

They fear that the destruction of sacred trees and disruption of the forest’s harmony could have lasting spiritual and social consequences.

In addition to cultural concerns, scientific studies have raised alarms about potential health risks.

Soil and water samples collected from the region show dangerous levels of heavy metals, including chromium, arsenic, and cadmium, well beyond globally accepted safety thresholds.

Health experts warn of long-term exposure risks, including increased cancer rates and other chronic diseases among local residents.

Faced with mounting pressure, some mining firms have paused operations. Notably, Cortec Mining Kenya, in partnership with Canadian firm Pacific Wildcat Resources, halted its activities following community protests. Government officials, too, have attempted to allay public fears.

Former Mining Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya assured residents that no evictions would be enforced and that any licenses issued without public participation would be revoked.

Nonetheless, the issue remains deeply divisive.

While a section of the community sees mining as a potential source of jobs and economic growth, the majority remains resolute that no amount of profit is worth the destruction of their ancestral land and sacred sites.

As the debate rages on, the future of Mrima Hill hangs in the balance—a symbol of the broader struggle between development and heritage, profit and preservation.