Row as Mining Communities Accuse Govt of Withholding Millions in Royalties

Miners are questioning the royalty sharing model gazetted earlier this year, citing challenges that limit their benefits despite government efforts to formalise the sector through law...

✨ Key Highlights

Mining communities in Kenya are disputing the nation's new mineral royalty sharing formula, arguing that the current allocation of 10 per cent to host communities is insufficient and that these funds are not disbursed directly, leading to delays and lack of transparency.

10 per cent of mining royalties allocated to host communities, with 70 per cent to the national government and 20 per cent to county governments.
Key stakeholders include mining communities, representatives like Hesborn Musambayi and George Mbavi, and the National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation.
The Mining (Mineral Royalty Sharing) Regulations, 2026, operationalized in January, are under scrutiny for challenging fund access and questioning the prioritization of local populations.