Nairobi, May 1 -- Kenya's mining sector is facing a renewed push toward formalisation, with Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Ali Joho warning that widespread illegal operations, weak regulation and rising fraud risks are undermining the industry's credibility and long-term sustainability.

Speaking during a stakeholder engagement at the Kenya Mining Investment Conference & Expo 2026, Joho said artisanal mining in parts of the country has drifted far from its legal definition, with some sites operating at near-industrial scale.

He cited a case in West Pokot where land initially carved out from a larger concession and allocated to cooperatives to support artisanal miners had evolved into large-scale operations.

According to Joho, governmen...