World · Africa · 3 hrs ago
Kenya's Mrima Hill mining plan raises concerns over farms and sacred forest
Kenya is considering mining niobium and rare earths at Mrima Hill, a forested area near the Indian Ocean coast and the Tanzanian border.
Farmers say they have received little information and fear relocation could take them from fertile land they rely on to survive.
Digo community elders oppose digging in the hill, which includes a sacred forest where they say their ancestors are buried.
The forest reserve was designated a national monument in 1992.
The minerals are sought for products including electric vehicle motors and wind turbines, as countries look for supplies beyond China's dominant role in processing them.
Kenya's mining minister says a technical committee is evaluating five proposals, and the government expects to announce a decision within two to three weeks.
The scale of any move or its effects on residents remain unclear.
Farmers and Digo community elders near Kenya’s Mrima Hill say they fear a proposed mining project could threaten their livelihoods and sacred forest.
Kenya is evaluating proposals to mine niobium and rare earth elements beneath the forested hill.
Residents say they have received little information about the project’s location, impacts or possible relocation.
The Digo community says the hill’s kaya forest contains the graves of their ancestors and opposes digging there.
Kenya’s mining minister says the government sees mining and local processing as ways to expand the economy and create jobs.
- Who
- Farmers and Digo community elders near Mrima Hill, and Kenya’s government.
- What
- The government is evaluating proposals to mine niobium and rare earth elements at Mrima Hill. Residents fear impacts on farms, livelihoods and a sacred forest.
- When
- The mining minister said an announcement would follow within two to three weeks, in an interview earlier in the week of the AP report published November 5, 2026.
- Where
- Mrima Hill, on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast near the Tanzanian border.
- Why
- Kenya wants to expand mining and local mineral processing, while residents are seeking information and protection for their farms and sacred forest.
Mrima Hill farmers and Digo community representatives
Kenyan government and mining proponents
Project impact
Mrima Hill farmers and Digo community representatives
Residents fear loss of farmland, livelihoods and a sacred forest; Digo representatives say they will refuse digging on the hill.
Kenyan government and mining proponents
The government views mining and local mineral processing as a way to expand the economy and create jobs.
Information and process
Mrima Hill farmers and Digo community representatives
Residents say they have received little information about where mining would take place or how it would affect them.
Kenyan government and mining proponents
The mining minister said a technical committee was evaluating five proposals and an announcement would follow within two to three weeks.
The Mrima Hill Sacred Grove forest reserve was designated a national monument.
The Mrima Hill Digo Community Trust was formed to defend the community’s interests in the project.
Critical Metals Corp. said its consortium had been shortlisted for the final stage of bidding for the project.
Joho told Semafor that the government viewed mining and local processing as ways to expand the economy and create jobs.
RareX said its consortium with Iluka Resources submitted a technical and financial proposal.
Joho said a technical committee was evaluating five proposals, with an announcement expected within two to three weeks.
- Minerals
- Niobium and rare earth elements
- Location
- Mrima Hill, Kenya, near the Indian Ocean coast and Tanzanian border
- Farmers’ group
- Mrima Farm Owners Community-Based Organization, with about 500 registered farmers
- Proposals
- A technical committee was evaluating five proposals
- RareX proposal
- Submitted by a consortium with Iluka Resources on Oct. 21
- Government target
- Increase mining’s share of GDP from about 1% to 10% within a decade
What people are saying
We haven’t been informed about the process at all
All our ancestors are buried here. We will refuse any digging of the hill.
Not all farmers have title deeds to prove ownership of their land, and that makes it easy for land grabbing to happen
Kenya aimed to increase mining’s contribution to gross domestic product from about 1% to 10% within a decade.