Let mining benefits trickle down from State to host communities

Kenya has in the last decade stepped up efforts to exploit its mineral resources, more so with the establishment of a stand-alone ministry to oversee mining operations. The Mining Act 2016 was also enacted to ensure that the country reaped maximum benefits from the extraction of these resources.

The expected benefits have however been slow in coming for the people who deserve them most, particularly the communities in marginalised areas. One of the key provisions of the Act was that local communities must feel the benefits of the resources. The law provides for the national government to retain 70 per cent of the earnings, while counties get 20 per cent and 10 per cent goes to communities where mining activities are carried out.