Mrima Hill, a rugged peak shrouded in forest near Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast, sits atop rare‑earth deposits worth $62bn according to a 2013 estimate.

The hill is a sacred kaya for the Digo people, who fear that mining could destroy their ancestral shrine.

Seven international consortiums have been shortlisted: China’s Jinan Yuxiao, Australia’s Rare X + Iluka, and a U.S. group led by Re Element and Vulcan Elements, with 1789 Capital backing. Kenya’s mining ministry gave them until Oct 1 to submit detailed plans. Local leaders such as Kassim Suleiman Mnyeto and Jermaine Kashi have warned that extraction could spill radioactive thorium and damage the landscape, while others, including Justus Mwero, ↩ see potential jobs and revenue if safeguards are met.

The debate pits national heritage against global demand for critical minerals. Kenyan officials say the outcome will shape the future of the coastal region and its people.