Cement plants are anchored to their raw materials. Limestone, gypsum and clay must be quarried where they lie, which makes land and licensing the two legal pillars of any cement project in Kenya. Securing that position takes longer than building the plant itself. This note sets out the steps for quarrying limestone and gypsum, from land assembly to a mining licence and environmental clearance.
What land steps come first?
Quarries consume land, and the land questions arrive before the licence does. Investors must establish the tenure over the deposit area and the plant site , private title, community land or government land , and negotiate access, wayleaves and resettlement where they are needed. Our real estate and conveyancing team regularly handles this assembly work alongside mining instructions.
What licence does a quarry need?
Commercial extraction of limestone or gypsum requires a mineral right under the Mining Act 2016, applied for through the Mining Cadastre Registry with a work programme and evidence of technical and financial capability. The application is considered in the ordinary way, with the Mineral Rights Board advising on the grant. Areas are mapped precisely, because the right extends only to the ground it describes.
What does NEMA add?
A quarry is an environmental project as much as a mineral one. An environmental impact assessment under the Environment Management and Co-ordination Act precedes operations, with conditions issued by NEMA that shape benches, dust, water use and blasting. Rehabilitation obligations continue through the life of the quarry and at its closure. Dust and blasting complaints are the most frequent source of friction between quarries and their neighbours.
What should a cement investor plan for?
- Long lead times across land, licence and environmental approvals.
- Community engagement and Community Development Agreements near settlements.
- Safety compliance under the Occupational Safety and Health Act for plant and quarry.
- Customs duties on imported plant and equipment under East African Community customs rules.
Because a cement venture combines land, mining, environmental and financing workstreams, coordination is the point. Our mining law practice leads the licensing work, and our project finance and infrastructure team supports the funding and contracting that follow. Early alignment of the three workstreams saves years.
For guidance on your specific situation, contact CS Advocates LLP , call, WhatsApp, or book a confidential consultation at our Westlands, Nairobi office.