US moves to beat China to Africa’s critical minerals with plans to develop a major processing industry within East Africa’s largest economy

The United States has formally expressed its intent to actively participate in the development of Kenya’s critical mineral sector.

According to a senior American official, the United States is keen on helping Kenya develop a ​critical minerals processing industry, as it races to garner more access to Africa’s critical minerals than China.

This move coincides with Kenya evaluating bids for the development of the coastal Mrima Hill deposit, an asset projected to hold tens of billions of dollars in rare earth elements and niobium, a critical metal utilized in aerospace manufacturing.

"Critical minerals are a top priority for President Donald Trump and Secretary of ​State Marco Rubio, and we are ready to work with Kenya as it becomes a regional leader in this space," ​Frank Garcia, assistant secretary of state for Africa, told a meeting of the Kenyan business lobby group ⁠American Chamber of Commerce.

"We are ready to help you build a mining sector that is transparent and attracts legitimate businesses, respects communities ​, and helps secure global supply chains.