Kenya's Mrima Hill, a sacred site covering 390 acres near the Indian Ocean, has become a focal point of competition between the United States and China due to its rich rare earth deposits, crucial for high-tech industries. Local communities fear eviction and loss of their sacred shrines as foreign companies, including a consortium of two Australian mining firms, bid for mining rights.

• The Kenyan government aims to boost the mining sector's contribution to GDP from 0.8% to 10% by 2030 through reforms like tax breaks and improved licensing.
• The Digo community and residents from at least five villages are concerned about potential displacement and lack of share in mining earnings.
• The hill has been subject to several legal battles, with a 2013 mining license revocation over environmental and licensing irregularities, and a 2019 temporary ban on new licenses due to corruption concerns.