Mrima Hills residents and human rights groups in Kwale County are demanding to be included in ongoing plans to develop the area’s critical mineral deposits, saying they have been left out of discussions on potential investors and the impact of mining on their land.The residents from Lungalunga Sub-County want the government, through the Ministry of Mining, to involve them in any agreements involving the mineral resources at Mrima Hills, arguing that they have not been adequately informed about the proposed project or the processes that will be followed.Justus Mweo Mwachupa, a resident, said the community was yet to receive clear information on how mining would be carried out and what it would mean for residents and the surrounding environment.“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.He said residents were also concerned about what would happen to them if the project required the relocation of people living around the mineral-rich area.Mariam Omar, a human rights activist from HUDA, said the organisation was engaging residents to help them understand their potential role in the development of the critical minerals and ensure they receive information about the project.“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 among the biggest concerns raised by residents, particularly because much of the land in the area had been inherited and succession processes had not been completed.The concerns come as Kenya advances plans to attract investors into its critical minerals sector, with at least six companies from the United States, Australia and China reported to be interested in developing the Mrima Hill deposit.Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho said Kenya and the United States were also in advanced discussions on a critical minerals partnership that could see refineries and processing plants established in Kenya, with some processed minerals supplied to the US market.Joho said the discussions involved several U.S. government departments and were linked to the ongoing bidding process for Mrima Hill, where the government expects to conclude the process in late October before engaging the preferred bidder.The project has attracted interest because of initial geological studies indicating the presence of niobium at Mrima Hill, while cobalt, copper and nickel deposits have also been identified in Kenya.An Australian-led consortium involving RareX and Iluka Resources has advanced to the Request for Proposals stage, with its detailed proposal expected in October 2026.
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