President William Ruto has announced a ban on the export of unprocessed gold and other minerals from Kenya. All extracted resources must now undergo local refining before they can be sold through government-approved channels.
The Central Bank of Kenya will act as the primary buyer of domestically refined gold. This measure aims to formalize the mining sector, which currently sees annual unregulated transactions estimated at 36 billion shillings.
The government plans to construct at least three gold refineries. The first facility, located in Kakamega, is supported by an investment of 5,8 billion shillings from H-NUO Kenya Company and is expected to be operational by mid-2027.
Kenya currently produces approximately 300 kg of gold per month. The new policy extends beyond gold to include all unprocessed minerals, such as titanium, gemstones, and rare earth elements, requiring local processing for all future exports.
