Artisanal miners demand licensing, call on President Ruto to act

Representing 90% of the country’s miners, they called on the government to fast-track licensing, arguing that bureaucratic barriers continue to sideline them while favoring large-scale mining companies.

During their Annual General Meeting, ASMAK patron Ahmed Salah led calls for the government to amend mining laws and provide a clear path for artisanal miners to obtain licenses.

He warned that the lack of formal recognition had pushed local miners into illegal cross-border trade, forcing them to sell their minerals cheaply in Uganda, Tanzania, and other neighboring countries due to fear of police harassment.

Salah urged President William Ruto to meet with artisanal miners and facilitate licensing through ASMAK, emphasizing that licensing would curb illegal mineral trade, boost tax revenues, and empower local miners to compete fairly in the sector.

Highlighting the economic potential of artisanal mining, Salah compared the industry to Kenya’s coffee sector, noting that minerals are a key source of foreign income.

He stressed that if licensed, artisanal miners could contribute significantly to national revenue, helping drive economic growth.

However, he lamented that excessive red tape continues to benefit large-scale mining companies while locking out small-scale miners from opportunities such as financing and access to modern equipment.

The AGM brought together artisanal miners from 17 counties, all united in their call for a more favorable licensing framework. They insisted that formal recognition would allow them to access funding, purchase better equipment, and operate without fear of government persecution. To push for these reforms, the miners pledged to engage further with Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, seeking a fair and structured licensing process that would integrate them into the formal economy.

Speaking at the meeting, Hon. Joseph Lagat, Chairman of the National Mining Corporation, assured the miners that the government is committed to empowering them under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

He promised that all necessary measures would be taken to ensure that artisanal miners receive licenses and can operate legally without fear of victimization.

With artisanal mining playing a crucial role in Kenya’s economy, the miners now look to President Ruto to act on his Bottom-Up pledge and ensure that small-scale miners receive the recognition and support they deserve.