Transparency International Kenya is part of the first cohort of 20 Transparency International Chapters involved in TI’s global programme to improve transparency in the process of awarding mining permits.

This global programme seeks to improve transparency and accountability in the extractive industries, focusing specifically on the very first link in the mining value chain: the decisions by government to grant mining or exploration permits and licenses and negotiate contracts.

This assessment comes at an opportune time, following a number of regulatory and administrative changes to the mining sector in Kenya. This includes: the enactment of the Mining Act 2016, which replaced the Mining Act of 1940; new draft regulations and guidelines to support the implementation of the Act; and a reconfiguration of the online cadastre system to comply with the new Act.

TI-Kenya identified 18 corruption risks that are likely to occur in the awarding of mining licences. These risks largely entail gaps in the legal and policy framework, poor access to information, an inadequate public participation process and a lack of institutional capacity.