Kenya

ARM-18 is most recent source believed reliable. → 140,000
Min/max: Total is recent and based on primary data. Low variation expected +/- 7% → 130,000 - 150,000
Female participation: Overall likely close to 30% → 50,000
Gold: 40,000

2018: 140,000

(ARM-18), Table Annex 3. Based on (KEN-2018a) primary data: 140,000

In Migori, gold mining is, by far, the main income-generating activity. ... Overall, the gold mining sector, considering other counties such as Siaya, Turkana etc. as well as seasonality of work, likely provides work for some 40,000 Kenyan citizens, whilst the gemstone sector countrywide might employ some 30,000 miners. This confirms the importance of the ASM sector, providing employment for approximately 140,000 ASM miners.
Gender:
In Migori men constitute 92% of the extraction workforce, in which approximately 400 workers are employed at the Osiri site. Women constitute 62% of the mineral processing (crushing, milling, sluicing, amalgamation) workforce.
the extractive and processing sector in Taita Taveta is approximately 10,000, with women comprising only 15% of the ASM workforce.
Direct mine and processing employment in Osiri was estimated at approximately 620 persons (+/- 10%, 62% men and 38% women)

2014: 146,000

(UBC-14): Gold-only data produced by statistic modelling:

Expected ASM population: 146,000 
Estimated ASM gold production: 5 t/a

1999: 35,000

(ILO-99): Employment: 30,000 - 40,000
Number of mines: > 50
Illegal mines: +/- 10%

ReferenceYearCitationArchived CopyLink
GMA-182018UNEP (2018): Global Mercury Assessment 2018. Technical Background Report E-Annex. Chapter 3.2. UNEP, Geneva.gma-18.pdfwedocs.unep.org/…
UBC-142014Seccatore, J., Veiga, M., et al. (Univ. of British Columbia - UBC) (2014): An estimation of the artisanal small-scale production of gold in the world. Scitotenv. 496.ubc-14.pdfdoi.org/…
ILO-991999Jennings, N. (1999): Social and labour issues in small-scale mines. Report for discussion at the Tripartite Meeting on Social and Labour Issues in Small-scale Mines. ILO, Geneva.ilo-99.pdfilo.org/…
IGF-182018IGF (2018): Global Trends in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM): A review of key numbers and issues. IIED/IISD, London, Winnipeg.igf-18.pdfiisd.org/…
ARM-182018Barreto, M.L.,Schein, P., Hinton, J., Hruschka, F. (2018): The Impact of Small-Scale Mining Operations on Economies and Livelihoods in Low- to Middle-Income Countries. ARM, Envigado, PACT, Westcombe.arm-18.pdfresponsiblemines.org/…
KEN-2018a2018ARM (2018): Economic Contributions of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in Kenya: Gold and Gemstones. UKAID/Pact/ARM, Westcombe.ken-2018a.pdfassets.publishing.service.gov.uk/…
ASM DATA - Country Database Record
Country CodeKEN
CountryKenya
ASM StatusExisting (data assessed)
Country Count1
Data year2018
Publ. year2018
ASM Miners140,000
- gold40 ,000
Data curation as reported
Inc. DevMinyes
- min.130,000
- max.150,000
- female50 ,000
ASM Commoditiesgold, gemstone, soda ash, diatomite, gypsum, limestone, fluorite, construction materials
  • country/kenya.txt
  • Last modified: 2023/04/14
  • by Felix Hruschka