Kenya is sitting on a vast but largely untapped mineral base stretching from coastal rare earth deposits to gold belts in the west, and battery minerals in the north, findings of a government-sponsored geological survey suggest.
A large-scale airborne geophysical survey completed in 2022 identified about 970 anomalies-geological signals that indicate the presence of commercially viable mineral deposits, many of them buried deep underground.
Government officials say the country is now deliberately aligning its mining strategy with surging global demand for metals used in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and high-end electronics. This, if actualised, will mark a shift from a historically underdeveloped mining sector to one targeting high-value, future-facing resources.
Secretary for Geological Survey Enoch Kipseba said the government is prioritising follow-up work in areas likely to host minerals that are in high demand globally, particularly those classified as critical or strategic.
‘We are doing that prioritisation, and mainly focusing on the critical minerals… some of them were declared as strategic minerals here in Kenya,’ Mr Kipseba said. ‘Some minerals are now sought after a lot. These are mainly critical minerals or green energy minerals.’
The emerging mineral map shows a country divided into distinct resource corridors, each tied to strategic minerals increasingly sought after in the wake of the global shift to clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
At the Coast, Kwale County anchors one of the country’s most strategic mineral zones. In addition to the already exploited titanium sands, the Mrima Hills deposit hosts rare earth elements and niobium minerals essential in the production of electric vehicles, wind turbines, electronics, and high-strength alloys.
In western Kenya, a gold-rich belt running through Migori, Kakamega, Vihiga and Siaya has attracted growing investor interest, with exploration pointing to commercially viable deposits.
Gold is key in supporting industries ranging from jewellery to electronics, while also serving as a store of value. However, production remains dominated by artisanal miners, highlighting the gap between resource potential and large-scale extraction.
Further north and east, Kenya’s least explored regions are gaining attention for battery and transition minerals potential.
The survey found evidence of potential deposits of graphite in Turkana, Samburu, Kitui and Taita-Taveta, which are critical for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems, while occurrences of lithium, nickel and beryllium could underpin renewable energy infrastructure and advanced electronics.
Copper deposits identified in counties including Kitui, Meru and Kajiado add to the country’s strategic mineral base, given that the metal plays a central role in electrification and green energy systems.
Perhaps the most notable discovery is coltan, a mineral used in the production of electronic components such as capacitors found in smartphones, computers, and other advanced devices. Its identification in Kenya signals a possible new entrant into a market largely associated with countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
However, Mr Kipseba cautions that bringing coltan to market requires strict adherence to international traceability standards designed to ensure minerals are sourced responsibly.
‘It is a mineral that is not easy to start a business with… There is an international protocol which we need to follow, so that it is known that Kenya is a producer,’ he said.
Mr Kipseba said the nationwide airborne geophysical survey used magnetic and radiometric sensors to detect underground variations, including metallic and radioactive minerals such as iron ore, uranium and thorium-many of them buried and previously unknown.
‘These anomalies point to areas where mineral concentrations differ from the surrounding geology… most of those were buried,’ he said.
The findings are now guiding a second phase of exploration known as ground-truthing, where geologists and geochemists conduct field sampling, drilling and laboratory analysis to determine the exact minerals present. The ongoing verification has covered more than 30 counties to confirm mineral occurrences and assess their extent.
‘This [airborne geophysical] survey is not showing exactly what minerals are in specific places-it shows the anomaly. So we send our geologists to conduct further exploration… including drilling and sampling what is underground,’ he said.
Beyond the high-value resources, Kenya also holds extensive industrial minerals that underpin domestic industries. Soda ash production at Lake Magadi remains a key export earner, while limestone, gypsum and fluorspar deposits support cement and manufacturing sectors across the Rift Valley and other regions.
Iron ore deposits in counties such as Taita-Taveta, Tharaka-Nithi and West Pokot further point to the potential for local steel production, although large-scale development has yet to take off.
The government is now betting on this growing pool of geological data to attract investors, by making detailed survey findings available to the private sector at an undisclosed fee in a bid to spur exploration and development.