China–U.S. Rivalry Turns Kenya’s Mrima Hill into a Battleground for Global Powers

 

By Brad Mukopi

Securing critical minerals has become a central aspect of modern diplomacy. As China — home to the world’s largest deposits of rare earth elements — tightens its grip with new export restrictions, industrial powerhouses are urgently seeking alternative sources. Kenya has now emerged as one of the new battlegrounds in this global contest.

China’s Tightening Controls and Global Response

With China’s comprehensive rare earth export control policy set to take effect on November 8, global automakers and manufacturers are racing to secure supplies and identify alternative sources of these vital minerals.

Rare earths are essential to high-tech manufacturing and the transition to low-carbon economies, powering everything from electric vehicles to wind turbines and advanced electronics. As Beijing strengthens control over access and exports, countries dependent on these minerals are scrambling to diversify their supply chains.

Critical Minerals as Diplomatic Leverage

The scramble for strategic minerals has increasingly become intertwined with diplomacy. This was evident in the June 2025 deal between the United States and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which granted the U.S. access to the DRC’s vast mineral wealth.

Critics, however, argue that the deal prioritizes American strategic interests over the long-term stability and prosperity of the conflict-prone African nation. External actors have long been accused of exploiting the DRC’s instability—working with rebel groups to mine and smuggle minerals out of the country.

Mrima Hill: A $62.4 Billion Prize

Along Kenya’s coast, Mrima Hill has drawn increasing interest from foreign powers eager to tap into its rare earth and niobium deposits — estimated to be worth $62.4 billion.

The valuation was conducted in 2013 by Cortec Mining Kenya, a subsidiary of the UK- and Canada-based Pacific Wildcat Resources, turning the 390-acre hill into a strategic focal point for global competition.

Local residents, however, fear being shortchanged. As land speculators, foreign investors, and brokers descend on the area, communities have mobilized to protect their ancestral land and ensure fair benefit sharing.

In June 2025, Marc Dillard, the interim U.S. ambassador to Kenya, visited Mrima Hill — a visit seen as a signal of growing American interest. Around the same time, Chinese nationals reportedly attempted to access the site but were turned away by locals determined to safeguard the resource.

Culture, Faith, and Environment at Stake

Beyond its mineral riches, Mrima Hill holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Digo community, serving as a sacred site and home to ancient shrines used for worship for centuries.

The lush hill also supports local farming and livelihoods, but environmentalists warn that intensified mining interests could threaten the area’s biodiversity and cultural heritage. Several plant and animal species in the forest are already at risk of losing their habitat due to human activity.

Controversy, Court Battles, and Allegations

The race for Mrima Hill’s riches is not new. It has been marred by court cases, corruption claims, and deep mistrust among locals, who fear displacement and exclusion from potential mining proceeds.

Cortec Mining Kenya was granted a mining license in 2013, but it was later revoked under controversial circumstances, sparking a lengthy legal battle.