CLT in Court to Block Kenya-US Mining Deal at Mrima Hill, Kwale

The Centre for Litigation Trust [CLT] has moved to Court seeking to stop the implementation of a mining deal between Kenya and the United States of America, at Mrima Hill in Kwale County.

CLT argue the process of reaching the agreement to exploit rare earth minerals at the mineral-rich Mrima Hill has been shrouded in secrecy and undertaken without public participation.

In a petition dated June 22, 2026 and filed through N.M. Kamwendwa & Co. Advocate, the Centre wants the High Court in Kwale to suspend the agreement until locals and their leaders are fully involved in negotiations regarding the valuable mineral deposits.

Executive Director Julius Ogogoh, in his affidavit, named CS Mining and Blue Economy Hassan Joho and the Attorney General as respondents, and Kwale County Government, National Museum of Kenya, and Kenya Forest Service as interested parties in the suit.

CLT further argued that the Kenya-US mining deal can not proceed without parliamentary approval, since it falls under transitions contemplated under Article 71 of the Constitution.

"The Contract terms, environmental impact Assessments, ownership structure, benefit-sharing framework and location of the proposed facilities remain opaque and vague" the Executive Director stated in the affidavit.

The Kwale's Mrima Hill holds one of the world's largest untapped deposits of Niobium and rare earth minerals valued at an estimated sh8 trillion, according to the Ministry of Mining's data.

The minerals are highly sought after globally for manufacturing jet engines, smartphones, electric vehicles, and renewable energy technologies.

In March 2026, the Ministry of Mining and Blue Economy launched an international competitive tender to commercialize the site and award mining rights.

Global superpowers led by the US and China are currently competing for the rights to mine and develop the resources, with the US seen to be the preferred bidder following an intensive lobbying.

However, local residents, including traditional elders, fear displacement from their ancestral lands, bearing in mind that the area is a culturally sacred site for the local Digo community.

Kwale County leaders, led by the Governor,  have demanded full transparency and strict guarantees that local communities will receive their rightful royalties.