After years of waiting, the vault is finally opening. Mining Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi has confirmed that the long-awaited Community Mineral Royalty Regulations will be gazetted this Friday. The move paves the way for the release of billions of shillings in accumulated royalties to communities in Kwale, Taita Taveta, and Turkana.

The Mining Act 2016 stipulates that royalties be shared 70% to the National Government, 20% to the County Government, and 10% to the local community. However, a lack of legal framework has kept the community share frozen in Treasury accounts since 2019.

The Kwale Impact

For Kwale County, home to Base Titanium, the gazettement is a windfall. An estimated KES 3.5 billion sits in the escrow account. "This is not a gift; it is our right," said a community representative from Msambweni. The funds are earmarked for scholarships, water projects, and health clinics.

• The Transparency Mechanism: The new regulations establish Community Development Agreement Committees (CDACs) to manage the funds. This is designed to prevent the money from being swallowed by county bureaucracy or local elites.
• Timing the Mrima Hill Project: The announcement coincides with the controversy over the new Mrima Hill rare earth project. By releasing past dues, the government hopes to buy goodwill for future extraction.

A Precedent for the Future

This regulatory fix unlocks the potential of Kenya’s extractive sector. Investors have long cited the "royalty risk" as a barrier to entry. With a clear sharing formula now law, Kenya hopes to attract the capital needed to map and mine its hidden wealth.