Keypoints:
- Gold worth $5.28bn discovered in Kakamega County
- UK’s Shanta Gold to invest $208m in new mine
- Kenya set to join East Africa’s top gold producers
UK-BASED miner Shanta Gold Kenya Limited has announced the discovery of vast underground gold reserves in western Kenya’s Kakamega County, valued at more than $5.28 bn (KSh683bn), in what officials are calling a landmark breakthrough for the country’s mineral industry.
Landmark find in the Lirhanda Corridor
The discovery was made in the Lirhanda Corridor, a 1,200-kilometre mineral belt stretching through Kakamega and Vihiga counties, following years of intensive exploration and drilling. Shanta Gold said feasibility studies are under way to pave the way for large-scale underground mining and ore processing.
‘The project aims to secure authorisation to mine the Isulu-Bushiangala gold resources for economic purposes,’ the company said in a statement. ‘This will enhance local economic development through job creation, business opportunities and significant contributions to the government through taxes, royalties and revenue generation.’
Kenya’s first major underground gold mine
Listed on London’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM), Shanta Gold plans to invest $208 million to develop the mine and construct a modern processing plant. If approved, the Lirhanda Project will become Kenya’s first large-scale underground gold mine — positioning the country alongside regional producers such as Tanzania and Sudan.
The company acquired its western Kenya assets from Barrick Gold in 2020 and has since conducted extensive drilling that confirmed high-grade ore suitable for commercial extraction. Shanta Gold said the discovery could elevate Kenya’s profile in the global gold supply chain.
Industry voices welcome the discovery
Mining engineer Brian Mwangi Njoroge, founder of a startup supporting artisanal miners in Migori, described the find as a ‘turning point’ for Kenya’s mining future.
‘This confirms what many in the field have long believed — that western Kenya holds world-class gold potential,’ he told Anadolu Agency. ‘With the right infrastructure and regulation, Kenya could move from exploration to production faster than many expect. The British mined here during colonial times — there has always been gold.’
Economic potential amid global gold surge
The announcement comes as global gold prices hover near record highs, driven by economic uncertainty and investor demand for safe-haven assets. Analysts say the timing strengthens Kenya’s appeal to international investors seeking new, politically stable mining frontiers.
Economists believe the discovery could diversify Kenya’s export base, create thousands of jobs and bolster foreign-exchange reserves. If managed transparently, it could anchor a new growth phase for the country’s underdeveloped mining sector.
‘Kenya now has the chance to build a responsible, modern gold industry that benefits communities and investors alike,’ Njoroge said. ‘Handled well, this could mark one of the most significant industrial transformations in decades.’
As feasibility work progresses, Shanta Gold said it remains committed to collaborating with the Kenyan government to ensure operations meet environmental and social standards, while delivering tangible benefits to local communities.
