Retention Licence Fees / Charges in Kenya

A retention licence allows a prospecting licence holder to "park" a mineral discovery — retaining exclusive rights over it — when market conditions, infrastructure, or financing aren't yet right for full-scale mining. It bridges the gap between prospecting and mining.

Fee Summary Table

Item	Fee / Charge
Application fee	Ksh. 500,000
Annual ground rent	Ksh. 6,000 per km², subject to a minimum of Ksh. 500,000 per licence year
Document perusal (per hour)	Ksh. 2,000

Source: The Mining (Licence and Permit) (Amendment) Regulations, 2024 (Legal Notice 43 of 2024).

What You Need

Form RTL1 application, submitted by an existing prospecting licence holder
Justification for retention rather than immediate progression to mining
Evidence of the original prospecting work and discovery
Company registration and tax compliance documents

Why the Ground Rent Is Higher Than Prospecting

Notice that the retention licence's per-km² ground rent (Ksh. 6,000) is double that of a prospecting licence (Ksh. 3,000). This reflects the fact that a retention licence locks up a known mineral resource without active development — the government charges more to discourage indefinite "land banking" of viable deposits. A retention licence is a useful tool if your project genuinely needs more time before mining begins, but the elevated annual ground rent means it's not a cheap way to sit on a discovery. The Cabinet Secretary decides retention applications within 90 days, so factor that into your project timeline.

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