Kenya is moving to end the export of raw minerals as the government seeks to expand domestic processing, create jobs and retain more value from the country’s natural resources.
President William Ruto said on September 6 that the government was developing measures to ensure minerals extracted in Kenya are processed locally before being exported. The targeted resources include gold, limestone, iron ore, graphite, titanium and soda ash.
“Going into the future, our position as the government… we will no longer export raw materials. We are going to process all minerals available in Kenya,” Ruto said.
The policy reflects a broader shift across Africa, where governments are increasingly seeking to move beyond the export of unprocessed resources and develop domestic value chains. Zimbabwe suspended exports of raw lithium and lithium concentrates in February 2026, while Ghana introduced requirements for locally purchased gold doré to be refined domestically before export from September.
Namibia, Malawi and Mozambique have also introduced measures aimed at increasing local mineral processing, while the Democratic Republic of Congo has used export controls in its cobalt sector.
For Kenya, the strategy is closely linked to job creation and industrial development. Ruto said the government intends to work with investors to establish processing facilities, including gold refineries and an oil refinery and petrochemical complex in Lamu.
The government is also working with Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote on plans for a refinery on Kenya’s coast. The proposed facility is expected to serve Kenya and neighbouring East African markets while reducing reliance on imported refined petroleum products.
Kenya’s push for greater value addition also intersects with the government’s dispute with Tata Chemicals over its soda ash operations at Lake Magadi in Kajiado County. Ruto has argued that Kenya should capture more economic value from the resource through additional local processing and greater participation by domestic companies.
Tata Chemicals’ operations were suspended on July 28, 2026, over compliance and licensing issues, while the company has said it remains committed to resolving the matter through regulatory engagement.
Kenya’s approach highlights a growing African consensus that mineral wealth alone is not enough to drive industrial development. The challenge will be building the infrastructure, investment environment, technical skills and processing capacity needed to turn raw resources into higher-value products and ensure that more of the economic benefits remain within the continent.