The State has acknowledged receipt of several applications for mining and prospecting licenses from both local and international companies as the country seeks to revamp the mining industry.
The move highlights increasing investor interest in Kenya’s mineral wealth, with proposed operations spanning gold, chromite, limestone, aggregate, manganese, and iron ore.
Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hassan Ali Joho, listed details of the mining permits in a series of gazette notices.
Among the major applicants is Shanta Gold Kenya Ltd, seeking to mine gold over a 15.38 km² area in Siaya and Vihiga counties.
"PURSUANT to section 34 of the Mining Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs notifies
receipt of an application for mining licence from Shanta Gold Kenya Limited, which details are set out in the Schedule hereto," reads the notice.
In Samburu, Geo Earth Resources (Africa) Ltd has applied for a chromite licence covering 56.28 km², while Pwami Mineral Ventures Ltd is also targeting gold in the same county, proposing a massive 64.56 km² operation.
Other notable bids include Ndovu Rock Ltd, which plans to mine limestone on 27.34 km² in Homa Bay; Karsan Ramji & Sons Ltd, applying for an aggregate licence in Kakamega and Uasin Gishu; and Sebit Investment Ltd, eyeing gold in West Pokot County.
Other firms have also applied for prospecting licences. Archers Post Investments Ltd seeks to explore manganese across 310.13 km² in Samburu and iron ore over 45.85 km² in Taita Taveta.
Sebit Investment has separately applied to prospect for gold across 71.58 km² in West Pokot.
In addition to the licence applications, Joho appointed multiple Community Development Agreement (CDA) committees involving local communities and mining companies.
These committees are a legal requirement under the Mining Act, aimed at ensuring community involvement and benefit-sharing.
The public has 21 to 42 days—depending on licence type—to file any objections to the applications.
"Any objection by any person or Community against the grant of the mining licence may be submitted to the Cabinet Secretary within forty-two (42) days from the date of this notice..." read part of the notice.
Comments can be submitted to the Ministry through the mining portal, portal.miningcadastre.go.ke or directly to the Cabinet Secretary’s office.
The move comes after CS Joho announced in July 2025 that the Ministry is implementing key measures to ensure the mining sector significantly contributes to the economic transformation of regions with minerals and the nation as a whole.
CS Joho highlighted that the Ministry is enacting bold, inclusive reforms aimed at ensuring fairness, profitability, and sustainability in the sector, particularly for artisanal and small-scale miners.
“Some of these initiatives include organising artisanal miners into cooperatives to maximise their benefits and establishing aggregation centers to ensure these miners receive fair value for their minerals, protecting them from unscrupulous dealers,” he stated.
