The government through the Ministry of Mining is in the process of procuring tracking system to catch tax cheats in the mining sector.
According to the State Department of Mining, the government is looking for a digital tracking system that will help the ministry map the production and sales of minerals in the country.
“The digital royalty management platform to be implemented is expected to support efficient management of royalty thereby promoting the much-needed accountability, transparency and reporting,” the Department of Mining stated in a tender document.
The Ministry over the past year has been mapping Kenya's mineral resources in a plan expected to reveal the wealth underneath the surfaces.
Already, the department is in the process of digitising the mineral resources that were mapped in a survey that started in 2020 and ended last year.
During the two years, the government put a moratorium blocking new investments and renewal of mining licenses.
Industry players have since the start of the year pushed for the lifting of the moratorium to attract new investments, with the government indicating it might happen soon.
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has also been tracking tax cheats as the country tries to increase revenue collections to hit the Ksh3 trillion mark.
Compared to neighbouring countries, Kenya is not as endowed with mineral resources.
However, there are viable deposits of titanium, gold, coal, iron ore and precious metals across the country.
The base Titanium mining operations in Kwale County are one of the largest in the country and have seen the coastal county grow.
“The digital royalty management platform to be implemented is expected to support efficient management of royalty thereby promoting the much-needed accountability, transparency and reporting,” the Department noted.
