DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa has accused senior government officials of planning to sell off the mineral-rich Mrima Hill in Kwale County, saying residents on the Coast are being denied jobs and benefits from their own resources.

Speaking during the United Opposition tour in Kongowea, Mombasa, on Saturday, April 25, 2026, Wamalwa claimed the state had already moved to hand over the strategic site to outside interests.

“Tunapo ongea hapa Pwani, kuna madini Mrima Hills. Matrillioni ya pesa. Sasa amefanya mpango auze madini yenu hapa,” Wamalwa said.

He added: “Tayari ako amenyakua mlima wa Mrima Hills, auzie watu wengine.”

Mrima Hill, located in Kwale County, is one of Kenya’s most valuable untapped mineral sites. Government estimates placed the deposit at about $64 billion (around Ksh8 trillion), with minerals such as niobium and rare earth elements used in steel, batteries, electronics and advanced manufacturing.

The government recently opened the project to an international competitive tender, saying the move would improve transparency and ensure Kenya gets value from the resources.

Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho said earlier in 2026 that Mrima Hill would be the first mining project in Kenya to be awarded through open bidding.

He described the site as being of national strategic importance and said extraction must be done safely, transparently, and sustainably.

But Wamalwa rejected the direction taken by the government, saying local communities were being sidelined while others stood to benefit.

Energy row

The opposition principal also turned his attack to the energy sector, claiming Mombasa had lost key opportunities after the closure of the refinery and changes at the Kenya Pipeline Company.

“Pili tulikuwa na refinery hapa Mombasa. Vijana walikuwa wanapata kazi, jamani hiyo refinery imeenda,” he said.

He then claimed that the Mombasa fuel pipeline had been sold to foreign interests.

“Pipeline ya kutoa mafuta Mombasa hii, hadi Uganda ameuzia Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,” Wamalwa claimed.

He further accused the government of choosing to support a refinery project in Tanzania instead of reviving local industry in Mombasa.

“Yeye badala akuje ajenge refinery hapa, vijana wenu wapate kazi, anauza pipeline na anaenda kujenga refinery huko Tanzania, pahali panaitwa Tanga,” he said.

“Vijana wa Tanzania wa Tanga ndio watapata kazi.”

The Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited plant in Mombasa stopped refining crude oil years ago after operational and commercial challenges. Calls to revive it have resurfaced several times, especially from leaders at the Coast who say the region lost thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

Wamalwa’s comments came days after the National Treasury formally completed the privatisation of Kenya Pipeline Company through an Initial Public Offer. The government sold a 65 per cent stake to investors while retaining 35 per cent through the Treasury.

Officials defended the listing as a legal and transparent process meant to raise funds for national infrastructure while improving efficiency.

However, critics argue that strategic national assets should remain under stronger public control.

The United Opposition has stepped up rallies across the country as it seeks to challenge President William Ruto’s administration on the economy, public debt, taxation and management of public resources.

At Kongowea, Wamalwa framed the Coast as a region rich in minerals, ports and energy assets but one that continues to miss out on jobs and investment.