Kenya is increasingly being used as a major transit hub for smuggled gold from several African nations, including South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a new report by SwissAid, a Swiss-based non-governmental organization.
The report highlights a significant discrepancy between Kenya’s declared gold exports and the suspected volume of gold passing through the country. In 2023, Kenya officially reported exporting just 672 kilograms of gold. However, SwissAid estimates that illicit gold flows likely exceed two tons annually.
“Kenya acts as a transit hub for gold from neighboring nearby countries,” the report stated. “The vast majority of the gold that is shipping from Kenya is not declared for export.”
Despite the Kenyan government introducing legislation in 2023 aimed at formalizing artisanal and small-scale mining to curb illegal gold trading, SwissAid notes that the legal framework is yet to be enacted.
The smuggled gold is primarily destined for Dubai, where it is officially declared upon import. Other significant destinations include India and South Africa. The report also suggests that Kenya may have become a transit route for gold originating from Sudan, where civil conflict has persisted since 2023.
SwissAid’s findings align with a similar report it published last year, which asserted that proceeds from the illegal gold trade are being used to fund conflicts, support criminal and terrorist organizations, erode democratic institutions, and enable large-scale money laundering.
