Kenya announces a ban on exporting raw gold ...

Kenya announces a ban on exporting raw gold and other unprocessed minerals, aiming to keep more value from natural resources inside the country. President William Ruto says Kenya will require domestic refining, beginning with gold and later expanding to minerals such as copper, coltan, graphite, titanium, and rare earths. The government plans new refineries in Kakamega and Nairobi, while the Central Bank of Kenya becomes a priority gold buyer. The policy targets smuggling, tax losses, informal trade, and low local value addition, reflecting wider African resource nationalism.

Tuesday, 15 September, 2026