New system digitises royalty declaration, assessment and payment, strengthening transparency and revenue governance

 

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR / NAIROBI, OCTOBER 5, 2026

In a significant milestone for digital governance in Africa's natural resources sector, CSM Technologies Limited, a leading GovTech company delivering Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) solutions across emerging economies, has successfully developed and deployed Kenya's Royalty Management System (RMS) for the State Department for Mining, Government of Kenya.

Implemented through CSM Tech Limited, the company's wholly owned Kenyan subsidiary, the platform went live on September 28 and now serves as the official nationwide digital channel for declaration, assessment, payment and monitoring of mineral royalties.

The deployment comes at a significant time for Kenya’s mining sector. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) 2026 Economic Survey, the country’s Mining and Quarrying sector grew 14.9 per cent in 2025, following a 7.8 per cent contraction in 2024. Separately, the State Department for Mining reported that Kenya’s mineral exports were valued at approximately US$220 million in 2024-25, generating KSh 991.3 million in royalties.

The launch marks a major step in Kenya's ongoing digital transformation agenda and strengthens governance within a mining sector that is increasingly becoming an important contributor to the country's economic growth, export earnings and community development.

The RMS has been designed to support implementation of the Mining Act, Cap 306, under which mineral right holders are required to pay royalties on minerals produced and sold. Under Kenya's revenue sharing framework, royalty proceeds are distributed among the National Government (70 per cent), County Governments (20 per cent) and Host Communities (10 per cent), making efficient collection and transparent administration critical to inclusive economic development.

Developed as a secure, integrated and user-friendly digital platform, the RMS enables mineral right holders and licensed dealers to complete the entire royalty compliance process online.

The platform allows users to register and manage miner profiles digitally, submit royalty declarations online, receive automated royalty assessments, generate invoices and make digital payments, track compliance status in real time, access authenticated transaction records, and monitor penalties and outstanding liabilities

The system also integrates with mining licence records and maintains secure audit trails through role-based permissions, significantly reducing manual intervention and improving operational transparency.

For government authorities, the RMS provides real-time visibility into royalty accruals, payments and compliance trends, enabling faster reconciliation and more efficient revenue distribution to county administrations and host communities.

The deployment aligns with the Kenyan Government's broader efforts to modernise public service delivery through technology-driven governance platforms and digital public services.

Recognising the diverse nature of Kenya's mining landscape, the rollout strategy has been designed to ensure broad participation across the sector, including large mining enterprises, mid-sized operators and artisanal and small-scale miners.

The State Department for Mining is facilitating onboarding, registration support and technical assistance through Madini House in Nairobi as well as County Mining Offices across the country, ensuring seamless adoption and ease of use.

CSM Tech Limited has been entrusted with end-to-end implementation responsibilities encompassing solution design, development, deployment, capacity building, knowledge transfer and post-go-live support.

Commenting on the development, Priyadarshi Pany, Managing Director & CEO, CSM Technologies Limited, said: "Mineral royalties are more than a revenue stream. They are a mechanism through which a nation's natural wealth is converted into public value for governments, communities and future generations. We are honoured to partner with the State Department for Mining, Government of Kenya, in building a transparent and technology-driven royalty administration system. This deployment reflects the growing global confidence in India's DPI expertise and demonstrates how purpose-built GovTech solutions can strengthen governance outcomes across emerging economies."

Subhendu Kumar Mohapatra, Director (MEA), Sales, CSM Technologies Limited, added: "Kenya's RMS is a strong example of how digital innovation can simplify regulatory compliance while improving transparency and accountability. The platform creates a single source of truth for all royalty-related transactions and provides a scalable framework for modern mineral governance. We believe such digital ecosystems will play a vital role in unlocking sustainable value from natural resources across Africa and the Middle East."

The Kenyan deployment draws upon CSM Technologies' extensive expertise in digital mining governance and mineral administration. In India, the company has successfully delivered several flagship mining technology platforms for state governments, includingRajMines for the Department of Mines & Geology, Government of Rajasthan, which has facilitated more than 20.5 million digital transit permits, Integrated Mines and Minerals Management System (i3MS) for the Government of Odisha and Khanij Online for the Government of Chhattisgarh

The launch of Kenya's RMS further expands CSM Technologies' footprint across Africa, where governments are increasingly adopting digital platforms to improve public administration, financial accountability and citizen service delivery.

The project underscores the growing role of Indian technology companies in exporting DPI models globally, particularly to emerging economies seeking scalable and cost-effective governance solutions.

With successful deployments across India, Africa and the Middle East, CSM Technologies continues to deliver secure, interoperable and citizen-centric digital ecosystems spanning governance, mining, agriculture, public finance, infrastructure, utilities and enterprise transformation.