Kenya Moves to Release Mineral Royalty Payouts to 32 Counties
Kenya · Mining Key Facts —The sum: The government has moved to release Sh2.9 billion (about US$22.4 million) in mineral royalties held since 2016. —Beneficiaries: Thirty-two counties are due a share of the money. —The biggest: Kwale County, home to the former Base Titanium operation, is set to receive more than Sh1.38 billion (about US$10.7 […] The post Kenya Moves to Release Mineral Royalty…
The Kenyan government has released Sh2.9 billion (approximately US$22.4 million) in mineral royalties that have been held in the Consolidated Fund since 2016. This payout is being distributed among 32 counties that are set to receive a share of the money. The largest allocation, over Sh1.38 billion (around US$10.7 million), is expected to go to Kwale County, which is home to the former Base Titanium operation.
Under the new 2026 Mineral Royalty Sharing Regulations, the royalties are divided 70% for the national government, 20% for the county, and 10% for the host community, an increase from the previous 2% allocated to communities. While the release of this money is a significant step, some host communities and certain members of Parliament have expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the community cut is still too small and should be paid directly rather than routed through county governments.
This development signals a compromise that other African resource-rich counties may study for their own revenue-sharing arrangements.
Written by urgent.news from The Rio Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
