The formalisation and financial inclusion of artisanal miners were the topics of our stakeholder meeting held in Migori, Kenya, on 24th October this month. The Impact Facility and Solidaridad organised this meeting under the EPRM-funded Project Access in Kenya and Uganda. The event brought together key players in the artisanal mining permitting process, including the State Department of Mining, land representatives, the Director of Cooperatives, the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), the Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety (DOSH), artisanal mining committee leaders, Kenya Chamber of Mines (KCM)and Association of artisanal and small-scale miners of Kenya. (ASMAK), During this session, key comparisons were drawn between the Kenya and Uganda formalisation journey through contributions by Emmanuel Kibirige of the Uganda Association of Artisanal and Small Scale Miners (UGAASM).

This gathering marked one of the most comprehensive dialogues on formalising artisanal and small-scale mining (ASGM) since the project began four years ago. Stakeholders clarified the requirements, challenges, collaboration opportunities, and the overall licensing journey for artisanal miners. They found common ground around compliance requirements throughout the mine licensing stages. Miners had the chance to raise pressing questions, especially about the difficulties they face with online applications and obtaining key documents like Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), which are challenging given their operational capacities.

In the afternoon, the discussions with financial institutions such as Equity Bank, ABSA, and NCBA bolstered confidence in the miners’ financial capability.  Ideas to enhance financial inclusion for artisanal miners, including alternative funding streams besides mining and the importance of continuous saving to qualify for loans, would help miners obtain loan facilities where mining permits are yet to be issued, Insuring workers and machinery through the Work Injury Benefits Act (WIBA) was also highlighted as a means to safeguard operations and ensure sustainability in mining operations. In the end, a client testimonial by a miner who received equipment through The Impact Facility’s Lease-to-Purchase model showcased the successful repayment of a generator and pump worth KES 1 million, demonstrating the investability of the sector to the banks present, encouraging their future support to miners in future. 

This event underscored that formalisation remains a key prerequisite to financing the ASM sector. Despite challenges in the application process, miners were encouraged to continue organising and submitting their applications amid these application bottlenecks.