Mrima Hill rare earths explained: why the US, China and Australia want a sacred hill in Kwale
A forested hill in Kwale may hold rare earths and niobium worth trillions of shillings. Five bidders are in the race, residents fear for their farms and ancestral graves, and a court case asks who should decide. Here is what is at stake.
- New explainer: Mrima Hill rare earths and the race for a sacred Kwale hill.
Mrima Hill is a forested hill of about 390 acres in Lunga Lunga, Kwale County, near the south coast. It is a gazetted forest and national monument, a sacred Kaya site for the Digo people, and it may sit on one of the world's most valuable deposits of rare earth elements.
What is under the hill
| Mineral | Used for |
|---|---|
| Rare earth elements | Magnets in electric cars, wind turbines, phones, missiles and other electronics |
| Niobium | Making stronger, lighter steel for pipelines, cars and buildings |
Why the world wants it
- China dominates rare earth supply and has been limiting exports, so other countries are racing to find new sources.
- The US has made critical minerals central to its Africa policy. President Ruto disclosed a preliminary agreement with the US and a competitive tender at the G7 summit.
- The bidders: three US-linked consortia, an Australian partnership (RareX and Iluka Resources announced a bid) and a Kenyan-British joint venture.
- Kenya's goal: raise mining from 0.8% of the economy to 10% by 2030.
The history
Cortec Mining Kenya applies to mine. NEMA rejects, then approves its environmental assessment; the licence is revoked in 2013 over irregularities. Cortec alleges it refused to pay a bribe; former minister Najib Balala denied it, and Cortec lost its legal challenges.
Kenya pauses new mining licences over corruption and environmental concerns.
The Centre for Litigation Trust files a case at the Kwale High Court to stop the Kenya–US deal.
Residents say the project is nearing and that they have not been told what will happen.
What residents fear
- Losing farms and graves: "All our ancestors are buried here," one resident said. Farmers do not know where digging would happen.
- No information: "We haven't been informed about the process at all," says Justus Mwero, who chairs the Mrima Farm Owners group.
- Environmental risk: rare earth processing can produce toxic chemicals and low-level radioactive waste.
- Being left out of the money: more than half of local people live in extreme poverty.
What the court case asks
- Did the deal skip public participation with the community, Kaya elders and Kwale County?
- Does it need Parliament's approval under Article 71 of the Constitution, which covers natural resource deals?
- Can mining happen at all on a gazetted national monument, which the Mining Act protects?
Related: Kenya's mega projects · Kenya–US trade and AGOA.
