Since 2013, the Kenyan government has increasingly pursued a coal industry, proposing it as a viable power source, including both mining and production. The projects have been met with a lot of speculation by local communities and environmental experts.

The Kenyan government and private project proponents are pursuing the development of a coal industry in Kenya through two main projects: potential coal mining in Mui Basin, Kitui County, and the proposed Lamu Coal Power Station, a potential 1,050 coal processing plant. Both have been marred by major problems: harmful health and environmental effects, displacement and livelihood effects on communities, unprofitable and unsound economics, violations in licences, and as a result local and international opposition, including ongoing litigation.