Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah Okoiti has brought attention to Kenya’s vast mineral resources, emphasizing their potential to significantly transform the nation’s economy if effectively harnessed.
In a post on X on Monday, July 29, 2024, Senator Omtatah expressed his belief that Kenya’s mineral wealth could play a pivotal role in boosting the country’s prosperity.
“Kenya has minerals that, if properly exploited and used, could make us a very wealthy nation,” Senator Omtatah remarked.
“The challenge of leadership is to convert these resources into wealth. It is high time that resources are utilized effectively for the benefit of the community,” he added.
Coltan
Omtatah’s comments follow a report on the discovery of large deposits of minerals critical for electronic devices such as phones and laptops.
Former Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary (CS) Salim Mvurya announced on January 24, 2024, that Kenya possesses substantial deposits of coltan in six counties.
The rare metallic mineral, primarily used in producing electronic goods like mobile phones, laptops, and video game consoles, is set to elevate Kenya’s profile as a mineral exporter.
Embu is one of the counties identified to have these valuable deposits.
During the announcement at Embu county headquarters, Mvurya stated, “It is now official. We have coltan deposits in the country, and we want to see how we can inspire investors.”
Mvurya highlighted the government’s commitment to revitalizing the mining industry for national benefit.
He mentioned that more workers would be employed to assist in exploring the minerals spread across various counties.
970 different minerals
So far, 970 mineral occurrences have been noted across the country, with plans for mining to commence soon.
Mvurya also revealed that laboratories would be decentralized to counties for more accessible mineral testing.
“We shall be setting up laboratory services in eight regions where we shall be testing samples and declaring the quality of minerals found in a particular region,” he said.
A recent survey has unveiled the country’s immense underground wealth, identifying 970 potential minerals nationwide.
These minerals are classified as prospects for further exploration to determine their economic viability and estimated total worth.
The identified minerals include industrial minerals, base metals, precious metals, rare earth and radioactive minerals, gemstones, construction materials, and geothermal resources.
If the process of confirming these critical minerals in 15 select counties proves successful, Kenya could join the league of nations mining thorium, nickel, cobalt, and more.