East Africa Northwest Mining Seeks Major Gold Licence in Kenya

2026-10-11 region

Lodwar, 11 October 2026
Kenya has invited public feedback after East Africa Northwest Mining applied for a gold licence covering over 40 square kilometres in Turkana and West Pokot, following a recent local gold rush.

Details of the Corporate Prospecting Application

The Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs has officially received an extensive prospecting application from Nairobi-registered East Africa Northwest Mining Company Limited [1]. Published via Gazette Notice No. 15986 on 9 October 2026, the application—referenced under code ML/2026/0415—encompasses 190 cadastral blocks spanning 40.9324 square kilometres (approximately 10,111 acres) across Turkana and West Pokot counties [1][3]. Cabinet Secretary Hassan Ali Joho confirmed that the application is undergoing formal evaluation under Section 34 of the Mining Act, stressing that statutory regulatory approval remains pending [1][3].

Statutory Objection Windows and Public Scrutiny

In accordance with legal frameworks governing mineral resource allocation, the Ministry of Mining has initiated a strict 42-day public consultation window from the notice’s publication date [1][3]. Affected host communities, local leaders, and interested parties have until 21 November 2026 to inspect the proposal via the government’s online mining cadastre portal or submit written objections directly to the Cabinet Secretary at the Works Building on Ngong Road, Nairobi [1][3]. This statutory period offers a structured mechanism for local populations, including host communities and refugees in neighboring hubs, to voice concerns regarding land access, environmental stewardship, and resource rights [1][3].

Local Gold Rush and Artisanal Mining Friction

The corporate licensing attempt follows significant local developments, notably an August 2026 gold discovery in Cheporor village, Kanyarkwat, which sparked a regional gold rush involving thousands of artisanal miners [1]. The influx of commercial interest has escalated tension between traditional artisanal miners and prospective corporate licence holders over access to established mining sites [5]. As large-scale applications move forward, host and refugee communities in Turkana West face shared economic and social consequences regarding land security and access to primary income sources [1][5].

Transparency Provisions and Administrative Oversight

The handling of major mineral concessions intersects with the new Access to Information Policy, 2026, published in the Kenya Gazette on 9 October 2026 [7]. Designed to reinforce rights under Article 35 of the Constitution of Kenya, the framework mandates that public and relevant private bodies proactively disclose information of public interest, reducing bureaucratic secrecy and establishing recourse through the Commission on Administrative Justice [7]. This policy standardises record-keeping and public access, allowing local stakeholders to scrutinise major state decisions such as large-scale land concessions [7].

Bronnen

Turkana West Gold mining