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Dr. Kanyoro Patrick, Chairman of the Kenya Chamber of Mines (KCM), delivered a compelling Statement addressing H.E Dr. William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defense Forces.
The statement outlined the pivotal role of the mining sector in Kenya’s economic growth and underscored the potential for sustainable development.
In his address, Dr. Kanyoro highlighted the Kenya Chamber of Mines’ role as the authoritative body representing the interests of various stakeholders in the country’s mineral sector value chain. With nearly one million stakeholders engaged at different levels, the KCM aims to contribute significantly to the development of Kenya’s mining industry.
Acknowledging the historical and economic significance of mining, Dr. Kanyoro expressed the Chamber’s commitment to working with the Kenya Kwanza administration to demystify mining as an economic activity. Despite the mining industry contributing a modest 0.7% to Kenya’s GDP over the past decade, Dr. Kanyoro believes that, with concerted efforts, the sector can contribute over 10% to the GDP by 2030, exceeding USD 10 billion.
Addressing President Ruto’s role as Chairperson and Coordinator of the Committee of the African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), Dr. Kanyoro emphasized the mining sector’s potential as a climate-resilient countermeasure. Green minerals, such as lithium, graphite, copper, cobalt, and nickel, offer opportunities for Kenya to participate in the global push towards a decarbonized future, creating jobs and supporting rural livelihoods.
Dr. Kanyoro expressed gratitude for recent positive developments, including the partial lifting of the mining moratorium in October 2023 and the formalization of artisanal mining. He commended President Ruto’s commitment to the sector, citing the appointment of the Chairperson of the Mineral Rights Board as a step in the right direction.
The Chairman praised the State Department for Mining’s (SDM) consultative approach and strategies to reinvigorate the sector, emphasizing the need for open and inclusive consultations to achieve the 10% GDP contribution goal. Dr. Kanyoro also welcomed the Cabinet’s decision to designate some minerals as strategic, calling for further engagement to ensure a smooth transition without discouraging investments, especially in green garnet and copper.
Highlighting the need for enhanced domestic resource mobilization, Dr. Kanyoro suggested honest engagements with stakeholders to address issues like smuggling, emphasizing the importance of the Bottom-Up Transformation Agenda (BETA) and the role of Artisanal and Small Scale Miners (ASMs) in the sector.
IDr. Kanyoro also expressed gratitude for the government’s budgetary support to the State Department for Mining and called for increased technical support to ASMs by geologists and mining engineers. He envisioned the transformation of the mining sector under President Ruto’s leadership, urging the nation to harness its mineral potential and transform lives across Kenya.
He quoted Deuteronomy 8:7-10, expressing hope for a prosperous future and urging continued collaboration between the government and the mining sector to realize Kenya’s mineral potential.