Kwale Residents Challenge Kenya-US Rare Earth Mining Deal in Court - August 2026

Residents of Kwale, Kenya, have taken legal action challenging a preliminary agreement between Kenya and the United States for the exploration and mining of rare earth minerals at Mrima Hill. Separately, the National Land Commission has initiated a fresh compulsory land acquisition process along the Mombasa-Mariakani highway corridor to facilitate its ongoing dualization, putting landowners on notice. Kenya's energy regulator, EPRA, is introducing new regulations to cap debt financing for future oil and gas projects, aiming to strengthen financial oversight ahead of commercial drilling in Turkana.