This, as President Ruto insists on win-win formula President William Ruto when he led other state officials in a meeting with Google’s Managing Director for Africa Alex Okosi on accelerating the expansion of Kenya’s digital infrastructure and strengthening the digital ecosystem to scale up digital trade /HANDOUT THE United States has pledged to support Kenya develop its minerals sector through local processing, skills transfer and community investment.
This, as the Kenyan government pushes for a shift from raw mineral exports and demanding value addition by investors. The affirmation comes amidst a fresh confrontation with Tata Chemicals over its long-running soda ash operations at Lake Magadi in Kajiado County.
The firm has been ordered to end its operations over allegations of extracting Kenya’s resources and exporting them without creating enough local industries, jobs and investment. US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, said American companies seeking opportunities in Kenya’s emerging mining industry would not simply extract minerals and ship them overseas, but would instead support value addition within the country.
Speaking at the fifth American Chamber of Commerce Kenya Business Summit in Nairobi, Garcia said the US wanted to become a long-term strategic partner as Kenya develops its mining sector. “American companies are not here to extract and ship. That is not partnership.
That is extraction,” Garcia said. The US has entered into a preliminary critical minerals agreement with Kenya to access and develop the valuable rare earth and niobium deposits at Mrima Hill in Kwale county, estimated to be worth over $62 billion (Sh9.7 trillion).
He said US firms would invest in communities where they operate, train Kenyan workers and transfer skills, creating careers rather than simply jobs. Garcia's remarks come as Kenya steps up efforts to explore and develop critical minerals, including rare earth elements, titanium, graphite, lithium and niobium, which are increasingly important to global supply chains, clean energy and advanced technologies.