Division and suspicion have gripped five villages near Kenya's coast as global powers from the United States to China eye a forest that is rich in rare earth minerals vital to high-tech and low-carbon industries.
The US government under President Donald Trump has made securing critical minerals central to its diplomacy in Africa, including through a peace deal in the resource-rich Democratic Republic of Congo this year.
Mrima Hill – a forest of around 390 acres near Kenya's Indian Ocean coastline – could be another target.
It sits quietly on huge rare-earth deposits that Cortec Mining Kenya, a subsidiary of UK and Canada-based Pacific Wildcat Resources, estimated in 2013 were worth $62.4 billion, including large stores of niobium, used to strengthen steel.
Local community worried
US official Marc Dillard visited the hill in June when he was serving as the interim ambassador to Kenya.
Other foreigners also attempted to visit in recent months, including Chinese nationals who were turned away, according to Juma Koja, a guard for the Mrima Hill community.
An Australian consortium of mining firms RareX and Iluka Resources announced a bid this year to mine rare earths on the site, and locals say land speculators are flocking to the area.
The interest is worrying the community, mostly of the Digo ethnic group, who fear they will be evicted or denied a share in future mining windfalls.
Prospective investors
The lush forest is home to their sacred shrines and has long supported farming and livelihoods.
AFP was initially barred access to the forest. "People come here with big cars... but we turn them away," Koja said.
His stance stems from past encounters with prospective investors – a process he says was not transparent.
"I do not want my people to be exploited," he said.
Temporary ban on new mining licences
Kenya revoked a mining licence in 2013 that had been granted to Cortec Mining Kenya, citing environmental and licensing irregularities.
In 2019, Kenya imposed a temporary ban on new mining licences over concerns about corruption and environmental degradation.
Kenya's mining ministry announced "bold reforms" this year, including tax breaks and improved licensing transparency, aimed at attracting investors and boosting the sector from 0.8% of GDP to 10% by 2030.
