Kwale Residents Demand Inclusion in Mrima Hills Critical Minerals Deals

Residents living around Mrima Hills in Kwale County have demanded greater involvement in plans to develop the area’s critical mineral deposits, saying communities must be informed and included before mining activities begin.

The residents, drawn mainly from Lungalunga Sub-County, want the government to involve them in discussions and agreements concerning the proposed development of Mrima Hills.

They said they had received limited information about the potential investors, mining processes and possible effects of the project on their land and the surrounding environment.

Justus Mweo Mwachupa, a resident, said the community needed clear information on how the proposed mining activities would be conducted and what impact they could have on residents.

“The citizens here have never known the processes that will be used here as well as their impacts on them and the environment around,” Mwachupa said.

Residents have also raised questions about land ownership and the possibility of relocation if mining operations require access to privately occupied or community-held land.

They want the Ministry of Mining to clarify how land rights, compensation and community participation would be handled if the project proceeds.

Human rights groups seek community involvement

Human rights organisations have joined residents in calling for greater transparency around the Mrima Hills critical minerals project.

Mariam Omar, a human rights activist from HUDA, said the organisation was engaging residents to help them understand the proposed mining project and the role they could play.

She said communities needed access to information about potential investors, government agencies involved and the procedures that would guide the development of the mineral deposits.

“We are engaging these citizens to get to know which roles they will be playing in the critical minerals mining deal. We want all this information made available to the community so that they are also aware that if at all they want anything from the project, they know the right person to approach,” Omar said.

Officials from Haki Madini Kenya said land ownership was one of the major concerns emerging from discussions with residents.

The organisation noted that some parcels around the area had been inherited, with succession processes yet to be completed. The issue could complicate future discussions over access to land and mineral development.

Government seeks critical minerals investors

The community concerns come as Kenya steps up efforts to attract investment into the critical minerals sector.

At least six companies from the United States, Australia and China have reportedly expressed interest in developing the Mrima Hills mineral deposit.

Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho has also said Kenya is in advanced discussions with the United States over a potential critical minerals partnership.

The proposed cooperation could involve establishing mineral processing and refining facilities in Kenya, with some processed minerals potentially supplied to the US market.

Joho said several US government departments were involved in the discussions and linked the talks to the ongoing Mrima Hills bidding process.

The government expects the bidding process to conclude later in October 2026 before engaging the preferred bidder.

Mrima Hills mineral potential

Mrima Hills has attracted international interest because of geological indications of valuable critical minerals.

Initial studies have identified deposits of niobium, while cobalt, copper and nickel have also been reported in the area.

An Australian-led consortium involving RareX and Iluka Resources has progressed to the Request for Proposals stage, with its detailed proposal expected in October 2026.

As Kenya seeks to develop its critical minerals industry, residents are calling for their concerns over land, environmental protection, compensation and participation to be addressed.

The community wants the government to provide clear information before major decisions are made, while ensuring that any future mining agreement takes into account the interests of people living around Mrima Hills.

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Kwale Residents Demand Inclusion in Mrima Hills Critical Minerals Deals