According to John Tanui, Principal Secretary in Kenya’s State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy, technology-driven mining, supported by digital skills and local value addition, could become a key driver of Kenya’s economic transformation.
Following the meeting held with Joseph Kitilit, Chief Executive Officer of National Mining Corporation (NMC), Tanui said this initiative is set to increase productivity geological mapping, data management, traceability, and connectivity across the value chain while attracting commercial investment.
Kenya needs to shift from raw mineral extraction to processing, value addition and local manufacturing to retain more economic value and increase its export potential, Tanui said.
The strategy aligns with the previous ITWeb Africa reporting on Kenya’s digitisation of state land registries and natural resource mapping, where the government has leveraged spatial data platforms and digital licensing portals to streamline investor approvals and reduce illegal mining claims.
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While Kenya has long-established industrial mineral operations such as soda ash, its metallic and rare-earth potential has received more neglect than the agriculture and services sectors historically. However, recent exploration has revealed significant potential for gold and rare-earth resources, alongside critical minerals such as copper, nickel, lithium and coltan, which are increasingly important to the green energy and technology sectors.
The mining sector currently contributes between 0.7 percent and 1 percent to Kenya’s gross domestic product, according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, with digital mapping expected to expand this share, Tanui said.
