‘Matters of a Madman’: Ruto Dismisses Gachagua’s Mrima Hills Claims

Nairobi, Kenya - President William Ruto has dismissed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's claims that his recent visit to the United States was aimed at securing a deal to exploit mineral deposits at Mrima Hills in Kwale County. During a media engagement in Mombasa, Ruto declined to directly address the substance of Gachagua's allegations, instead criticizing him as "a complete fool" and asking why Gachagua was raising "the matters of a madman?"

Gachagua, now leading the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), made the allegations while touring the United States last month. He claimed Ruto's trip to New York for the UN General Assembly was a cover for negotiations over exploiting niobium and rare-earth minerals at Mrima Hills, potentially worth Sh8.2 trillion. Gachagua alleged Kenyans would not receive a fair share of the revenues and threatened legal action if the proposed exploitation proceeded.

The allegations gained traction as Kenya and the United States have discussed cooperation in the critical minerals sector. In September, US officials announced plans to support Kenya in developing processing capacity for rare-earth and niobium deposits. Mrima Hills is central to those discussions, with the government aiming to have minerals processed locally rather than exported in raw form.

The government has stated it wants to award mineral rights through a public tender process, but no final agreement has been reached. The project has faced controversy over community participation, land rights, and the terms of foreign investment. A petition challenging aspects of the proposed development was filed before the High Court.