President Ruto Vows To Unlock Ksh1.6Trillion Revenue Increase From Hidden Reserves
Turkana County, once seen as marginalized, is now positioned to become the foundation of Kenya’s ambitious mining sector expansion.
In a strategic drive to increase the mining sector’s contribution from 1% to more than 10% of GDP by 2030, the government has set its sights on Turkana’s mineral-rich expanses.
President William Ruto’s government intends to pump Ksh1.6 trillion into the country’s coffers by leveraging the untapped potential of one of Kenya’s most resource-rich regions, transforming it into an economic powerhouse.
Turkana’s scenery, which is typically portrayed as arid and bleak, hides a treasure trove of minerals spanning several categories.
These include precious stones like rubies, sapphires, and garnets; building minerals like asbestos, silica, and gypsum; and strategic minerals like chromite and coltan.
The county also contains radioactive materials such as samarskite and pitchblende, the latter of which is classified as uranium.
Turkana’s vast mineral riches made it as a significant participant in Kenya’s economic development.
Salim Mvurya, the Mining Cabinet Secretary, declared that Turkana’s mineral reserves have revolutionary potential.
“The minerals in Turkana County can trigger unprecedented growth in the region. With the right environment, we can promote sustainable exploitation that will benefit both the local community and the national economy,” he stated during a recent visit to the county.
Turkana County’s population of 926,976, according to the 2019 census, stands to benefit considerably from the systematic use of these resources.
The existence of over 21 high-value minerals lays a solid platform for economic growth, with mining poised to outperform other sectors and establish itself as the region’s principal economic driver.
Stanley Loter, County Director of Mineral Resources, portrays Turkana as a “virgin treasure trove,” emphasizing the latent economic prospects that are waiting to be discovered.
During a high-profile delegation visit to Turkana, CS Mvurya, along with Principal Secretaries Elijah Mwangi (Mining), Betsy Njagi (Blue Economy), and Geoffrey Kaituko (Maritime Affairs), emphasized the potential benefits of a national-county collaboration.
“We are working with the county to exploit mining potential. With the Artisanal Mining Committee in place, we can issue licenses and monitor operations to ensure investors pay royalties that will be distributed to residents,” Mvurya explained.
Joseph Ekiru, Chairman of Turkana County Artisanal Miners, is enthusiastic about the future.
“This mineral giant is awakening. The minerals will become the ultimate game-changer for growth and progress for this county,” he remarked.
Ekiru’s sentiment is echoed by extensive mineral data, which shows a widespread distribution of valuable minerals across Turkana.
Nadapal and Lokitang are gold-rich areas, whereas Kaeris and Malpus contain blue sapphires.
Kaputirr is notable for its red and green garnets, as well as the existence of graphite, a high-value material used in battery manufacturing, which adds to the area’s economic potential.
The Mining Act of 2016 establishes a structure for distributing royalties from mining activities, assigning 70% to the national government, 20% to county governments, and 10% to the local community.
This three-part method ensures that the advantages of mining are spread evenly, promoting development at all levels.
Mineral-rich counties were set to benefit financially in December last year when the government allocated Ksh2.9 billion in mining royalties.
These monies, put aside for the fiscal year 2023/24, are intended to boost counties’ equitable share of exchequer earnings, thereby increasing their financial capacity to support local development initiatives.
Kenya’s government revenue for the fiscal year 2022/2023 totaled approximately Ksh2.38 trillion, and an additional injection of Ksh1.6 trillion might prevent the government from borrowing excessively to cover budgetary gaps.
President Ruto Vows To Unlock Ksh1.6Trillion Revenue Increase From Hidden Reserves
