Kenya bans exports of unprocessed minerals, plans three refineries

Kenya: Kenya is an East African nation with a developing mining sector focused on gold and other minerals. The government under President William Ruto announced on September 15, 2026, a ban on exports of unprocessed minerals and plans to build at least three gold refineries. This policy aims to retain more value from natural resources domestically by requiring local processing and approved channels for export. Policy Alignment: Kenya's approach follows similar measures implemented by Ghana and Zimbabwe to require local processing of gold and other minerals before export. Continental Trend: African nations are increasingly adopting policies to ban unrefined mineral exports and promote local refining to capture greater economic benefits. Institutional Role: The Central Bank of Kenya is positioned to have priority in purchasing locally processed gold through a domestic gold-purchasing programme.