State Targets To start issuing new mining Rights from June

Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has said the government will begin issuing new mining licenses from June this year after more than three years freeze to pave for new investments in the sector.

While appearing before the Senate to respond to questions on Wednesday, Mvurya said the moratorium imposed on the issuance of mineral rights in December 2019 by the previous administration was done to secure Kenya's mineral wealth and give room for the country to map its mineral deposits through the Airborne Geological Survey which has since been completed.

"Moratorium was to safeguard Kenya' national interests by developing the right data and eliminate speculation on the availability of substantial mineral deposits.The suspension would also allow the government to complete the mapping exercise without influx of speculative mining license applications that would have posed a threat to Kenya's mining sector," Said Mvurya.