The United States has pledged to help Kenya build a domestic critical minerals processing industry as Washington seeks to strengthen supply chains and reduce dependence on China.
Frank Garcia, the US assistant secretary of state for Africa, said on Wednesday that Washington was ready to support Kenya as it expands mining and processing of strategic minerals.
“Critical minerals are a top priority for President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and we are ready to work with Kenya as it becomes a regional leader in this space,” Garcia told a meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kenya.
He said US support would focus on developing a transparent mining industry capable of attracting credible investors, protecting local communities and strengthening global supply chains.
Kenya has significant deposits of minerals considered strategically important for industries ranging from aerospace and electronics to clean energy and defence.
Among the country’s most closely watched projects is Mrima Hill on the coast, which is believed to contain large quantities of rare earth minerals and niobium. The deposit has been estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars.
US-based Critical Metals Corp and Australia’s RareX said in July that they had been shortlisted to compete for rights to develop the site, although the Kenyan government has not publicly confirmed its shortlist.
Washington has stepped up efforts to secure access to critical minerals across Africa as competition with China intensifies. Beijing remains the dominant player in the global rare earth supply chain and has tightened export controls on some strategic materials in recent years.
The US International Development Finance Corporation is supporting a number of African rare earth projects as part of that effort.
Garcia said Washington wanted partnerships that went beyond simply extracting raw materials.
“If we are serious about rare earths minerals, energy and a stronger America, we do it in partnership, not alone,” he said.
Kenyan President William Ruto welcomed the US commitment, saying local processing could generate employment and allow Kenya to capture more value from its natural resources.
“In critical minerals, we are accelerating the responsible exploration and development of rare-earth elements, titanium, graphite, lithium, niobium and other strategic resources,” Ruto said.
Ruto previously told Reuters in June that Kenya and the United States were close to completing a critical minerals agreement, although neither government announced an update on Wednesday.
Garcia said Washington favoured a development model in which mineral-producing countries also process and add value to resources locally rather than exporting them in raw form.
His remarks appeared to contrast the US approach with that of competitors accused of extracting minerals in Africa and processing them overseas.
China has rejected criticism that its investment model deprives mineral-producing countries of the economic benefits of local processing.
