Banks are willing to lend money to small-scale miners if they prove their businesses are reliable.

The Geological Department is helping the miners to get proof of reliability in order to access funding.

Banks have for a long time avoided availing loans to the workers who deal in minerals such as gold and gemstones due to the informal nature of their businesses.

"Banks are willing to lend them money if they can produce bankable feasibility studies of their operations," says Lojomon Biwott, the Commissioner of Mines.

Biwott's department is helping most of the small-scale miners who lack proper education to produce viable feasibility studies.

In 2007, the mining industry was worth KSh15 billion, excluding mining of building materials such as sand, ballast and cement.