Kenya is moving to end the export of raw minerals as East Africa’s largest economy pushes to process more of its natural resources locally, create jobs and retain a greater share of their value.
President William Ruto said on September 6 that his administration was exploring ways to ensure minerals extracted in Kenya are processed locally before export.
He named gold, limestone, iron ore, graphite, titanium and soda ash among the resources targeted under the policy.
“Going into the future, our position as the government. Whether we are talking about Magadi Soda or oil or all our minerals we have taken the decision that we will no longer export raw materials. We are going to process all minerals available in Kenya,” he said.
The policy places Kenya among a growing number of African countries seeking to reduce raw mineral exports and retain more value through local processing.
Zimbabwe, Africa’s largest lithium producer, suspended exports of raw minerals and lithium concentrates in February 2026, while Ghana began requiring locally purchased gold doré to be refined domestically before export from September 1.
Namibia restricts exports of selected unprocessed critical minerals, while Malawi requires more minerals to be processed or value-added locally and Mozambique has tightened controls on unprocessed and semi-processed mineral exports.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has also used export controls in its cobalt sector.
Kenya targets local processing and jobs
Ruto said Kenya would work with investors to establish processing facilities and expand value addition across the mining and extractive industries.
He pointed to plans involving Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, saying Kenya was working towards an oil refinery and petrochemical complex in Lamu as well as gold refining facilities.
“It is the reason why we are working with Dangote to have an oil refinery in Lamu and working with others to have gold refineries because it is imprudent for any government to export raw materials, create jobs and value in other countries while we have a big population of young people who need jobs and whose value on adding to our products can make a big difference in our country,” he said.
Dangote has separately disclosed plans for a refinery on Kenya’s coast that would serve Kenya and neighbouring East African markets, reducing the region’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
Kenya links Tata dispute to local processing drive
The policy also feeds directly into the government’s dispute with Tata Chemicals over its long-running soda ash operations at Lake Magadi in Kajiado County.
Ruto has argued that Kenya has received too little value from the operation, accusing the company of exporting raw material while failing to develop enough local processing capacity.
Tata Chemicals has said it respects the government’s authority and remains committed to resolving the dispute through regulatory engagement.
“We want to give five, six or even 10 companies an opportunity to use the resources there to create jobs, value, create wealth and reduce poverty,” Ruto said.
Tata Chemicals’ mining operations were suspended from July 28, 2026, over compliance and licensing issues.
The wider strategy reflects a growing African push to process minerals locally, with Kenya, whose economy is projected at about $147 billion in 2026, seeking to boost manufacturing, jobs and export earnings while retaining more value at home.
