Mining

Mining in Kenya is relatively modest in scale. Kenya is a potential source of high-value mineral commodities such as titanium and oil that remain unexploited due to inadequate knowledge on their status, economic viability and appropriate mining technologies. In March 2012, oil was discovered in Turkana by the British oil company Tullow.

The Ministry of Mining formed in 2013 was mandated with mineral exploration and mining policy formulation, as well as management, inventory and mapping of mineral resources and mining and minerals development. The Ministry launched the Kenya Mining Cadastre portal with the aim of providing an electronic platform for all stakeholders in the mining sector to engage directly with the Ministry.

Already, an appropriate mineral prospecting and mining policy conducive to investment and private-public partnerships (PPP) in the mining sector is in place. Investors can focus on value addition through direct or joint venture partnerships. U.S. oil companies have also entered the market with plans to begin drilling exploratory wells.