WEST POKOT — Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho has announced a new slate of reforms targeting Kenya’s mining sector, with a focus on job creation, fair trade, and long-term economic gains in mineral-rich regions. The changes aim to position mining as a core driver of local and national development.
Speaking during a meeting with the West Pokot Youth Association, Joho said the Ministry is restructuring key policies to ensure small-scale and artisanal miners benefit from their work and are protected from exploitation.
“We are organizing artisanal miners into cooperatives to increase their earnings and strengthen transparency,” Joho said. “We will also set up aggregation centers so they can get fair market value for their minerals and avoid predatory brokers.”
The West Pokot region, known for deposits of gold, fluorspar, and other rare minerals, has long struggled with informal mining practices that often leave communities underpaid and underdeveloped. Joho stated that the government’s goal is to change that by formalizing operations and building local capacity.
He said the Ministry is also working to attract large-scale, credible investors willing to build roads, processing plants, and other infrastructure while adhering to Kenya’s environmental and labor standards. “Investors must create jobs, pay royalties, and contribute to community growth. That’s non-negotiable,” Joho added.
The Cabinet Secretary urged young people in West Pokot to become ambassadors for responsible mining practices and to educate their communities on how mining can reduce poverty and spark development when done right.
Joho’s remarks come amid growing pressure on the government to address economic disparities in regions rich in natural resources. Recent reports show that while Kenya’s mining output has increased, much of the wealth bypasses local populations.
Also present at the forum was Mining Principal Secretary Kimtai Harry, who echoed Joho’s call for partnerships between government, communities, and investors to unlock the sector’s potential.
The Ministry’s reforms are expected to roll out in phases, with immediate focus on streamlining licensing, forming miner cooperatives, and launching mineral aggregation sites in counties like West Pokot, Turkana, and Migori.
According to the Ministry, a detailed implementation roadmap will be released later this month.
