Ruto Cracks Down on Unprocessed Gold Exports from Kenya

President William Ruto has announced plans to stop exporting unprocessed gold from Kenya. Speaking at Kisumu State Lodge on September 14, he said that all gold produced in the country must be refined locally and sold through approved channels with the Central Bank of Kenya as the primary buyer.

The plan aims to prevent smuggling and revenue leakage by formalizing artisanal and small-scale mining. According to Ruto, three gold refineries are operational or under development, including facilities in Kakamega and Nairobi, which will provide the capacity for the policy.

Under the new arrangement, gold produced in Kenya would have to pass through approved processing and refining channels before export. Shipping unprocessed gold outside those channels would be made illegal. Ruto cited Ghana and Zimbabwe as examples of countries pushing local processing.