Land rehabilitation process ongoing at Base Titanium in Kwale County in January 2026.
By Shaban Omar
Mining Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai has announced that all mining companies will now be required to pay an environmental bond as part of the government’s push to strengthen sustainable mining practices.
Kimtai said the bond will serve as a safeguard to guarantee proper land rehabilitation during and after mining operations, ensuring companies remain accountable for the environmental impact of their activities.
He said it would a mandatory for all mining firms must comply with the new regulations that require them to pay an environmental bond before being issued with a mining licence.
“We have passed a law in the Environmental Management Act requiring mining companies seeking licenses to first pay an environmental bond. If they fail to rehabilitate the mined-out areas, the government will use that money to restore the land,” he said.
Mining Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai briefs the media at Tsunza in Kwale County on Friday, April 17, 2026.
He cautioned local mining companies against engaging in irresponsible extraction practices, insisting that the government will not tolerate activities that degrade the environment.
The PS emphasized that while mineral resources play a critical role in boosting the country’s economy, environmental conservation must remain a top priority.
He noted that sustainable mining is only possible if companies strike a balance between extraction and protection of natural ecosystems.
Kimtai added that the government will intensify monitoring to ensure full compliance, warning that companies that flout the regulations will face decisive action.
He also put on notice companies involved in coral harvesting, warning that they must rehabilitate mined-out areas or face stern action from the government.
Mangrove trees at Tsunza in Kwale County on Friday, April 17, 2026.
“Those mining corals must return the land to its original state and ensure they plant enough trees in those areas,” he said.
The PS made the remarks while chairing a mangrove-planting initiative at the Mwache Conservation Area in Tsunza, Kwale County, on Friday, April 17, 2026.
The event was organised by Kenya Forest Service in partnership with WWF-Kenya, local communities and the Kwale County government as part of a broader effort to plant 20,000 mangroves under the national target of 20 billion trees by 2030.
Kimtai urged residents to fully embrace tree planting to ensure the initiative succeeds.
WWF-Kenya Director General Jackson Kiplagat vowed to continue supporting efforts to restore degraded mangrove forests and other terrestrial ecosystems.
WWF-Kenya Director General Jackson Kiplagat speaks with the media at Tsunza in Kwale County on Friday, April 17, 2026.
“We are ensuring that communities have the right tree species for planting, and in many cases, we buy seedlings directly from them for restoration,” he said.
Kiplagat added that WWF-Kenya will continue partnering with various stakeholders to support the government’s agenda of achieving its 2030 restoration targets.
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