By Shaban Omar
The National Management Environment Authority (NEMA) has commended Australian mining firm Base Titanium for a successful and comprehensive land rehabilitation exercise in Kwale County.
Barely two years after the company ceased operations, significant progress in restoring mined-out areas is already evident.
Unlike many mining firms that delay rehabilitation until the end of extraction, Base Titanium adopted a progressive model, restoring land concurrently with ongoing mining activities.
The company, which began operations in 2013, wound up mining in December 2024 after fully extracting key minerals including zircon, rutile, and ilmenite.
During the Kwale Mine Closure Expert Monitoring Studies Dissemination Workshop held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, in Diani, the company announced that it had achieved 100 percent rehabilitation in several key zones within the project area.
Coast Regional NEMA officer Isaya Chengo described Base Titanium as a model company, highlighting its adherence to environmental regulations and high standards in mineral exploitation and land restoration.
βBase was the first company to submit a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment report, the first to receive the necessary licenses, and it has consistently complied with all regulatory requirements,β Chengo said.
He added that the company has committed to maintaining the restored areas to ensure long-term sustainability.
Chengo urged other mining companies in Kenya to emulate Base Titaniumβs standards, noting that many local firms leave land barren and degraded after extraction.
Kwale Mining Alliance (KMA) Coordinator Mahmoud Barow also praised the company for its responsible mining practices.
Independent assessments by environmental experts confirmed that land previously mined has been restored to nearly its original state, with wildlife and microorganisms gradually returning.
Barow said civil society organizations will continue monitoring the rehabilitated land and intensify public awareness campaigns on rehabilitation processes, mineral rights, and land rights to empower communities living near mining zones.
Community members expressed relief and appreciation.
Mwasimba Bega said he expected to find degraded land but instead saw lush vegetation across the restored areas. βTo be sincere, Base has done their work with passion and determination. There is grass and there are trees all over,β he said.
Another resident, Sikudhani Alfonce, said the restored land safeguards biodiversity and brings a sense of relief to surrounding communities.
Base Titaniumβs rehabilitation exercise positions it as the first mining company in Kenya to fully demonstrate sustainable mining and systematic land restoration.
Base Titaniumβs Environmental Acting Manager Mikah Muema affirmed the companyβs steady progress in ensuring effective and sustainable land rehabilitation.
Muema said independent studies conducted by various environmental research institutions have verified that the rehabilitation work is grounded in solid scientific evidence, demonstrating the companyβs commitment to ensuring a suitable environment even after post-mining land use.
He added that community members have also had the opportunity to witness the restored sites firsthand, contrary to misinformation being spread by some individuals about the rehabilitation process.
