The government is ramping up efforts to sanitize the mining industry, unveiling a series of bold reforms aimed at restoring order, protecting natural resources, and positioning the country as a stable destination for investment.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, speaking on Wednesday, April 16, said the crackdown on unlawful mining is part of a broader strategy to reestablish credibility and enforce accountability across the sector.
“The time has come to clean up the mining sector, which has for too long been bogged down by unregulated activities. These reforms are about securing our natural resources and signalling to investors that Kenya is open for clean and sustainable business,” said Murkomen.
The announcement followed a high-level meeting with key stakeholders, including Mining CS Hassan Joho, Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai, and senior security officials such as Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, DCI chief Mohamed Amin, and Deputy IGs Eliud Lagat and Gilbert Masengeli. The meeting was informed by recent deliberations from the National Security Council and regional security forums like Jukwaa la Usalama.
A key pillar of the plan involves restructuring specialized police units assigned to the State Department for Mining—a move that could drastically enhance enforcement against illegal operators and improve response to mining-related crimes.
“This could potentially make the restructured units more effective in handling mining-related crimes,” Murkomen explained.
Authorities say the reforms will not only clamp down on rogue operations but also encourage legitimate players to operate in a transparent and secure environment
