The State Department’s mandate is derived from the Executive Order No. 1 of January, 2023 on the Organization of the Government of the Republic of Kenya.

1. Development of policies on the extractive industry;
2. Undertaking mineral exploration and mining policy management;
3. Maintaining an inventory and mapping of mineral resources;
4. Development of mining and minerals development policies and standards;
5. Maintenance of Geological Data (Research, Collection, Collation, Analysis);
6. Policies on the Management of Quarrying of Rocks and Industrial Minerals;
7. Mining Capacity Development and Value Addition; and
8. Management of Health Conditions and Health and Safety in Mines.
   
   

The State Department has oversight responsibilities over the National Mining Corporation (NMC), the Mineral Rights Board (MRB), Kenya National Mining Institute and the Geologist Registration Board (GRB).

The State Department has interpreted its mandate to include performance of the following function:-

• Develop and manage geological survey, Geo-information Management, mineral promotion and marketing policies.
• Undertake geological, geochemical, geophysical, seismological and structural mapping to define the character and distribution of the
• rocks and superficial deposits.
• Undertake mineral exploration and deposit valuation.
• Conduct Geo-hazards mapping, geotechnical investigations and geo-environmental studies.
• Establish, operate and maintain a National Seismological Network (NSN) for monitoring seismic activity in Kenya and the region in liaison with other related agencies.
• Develop a national geosciences repository and database.
• Ensure maintenance of laboratories, drill core library, rock museum, library and records facilities.
• Promote and market Kenya as a mineral and mining investment destination.
• Coordinate international and regional laws, agreements and memoranda of understanding in the extractives sector.
• Generate mineral resource data to spur investment in the mining sector in line with African Vision 2063, African Mining Vision and Kenya Vision 2030.
• Superintend over the National Mining Corporation.
• Superintend over the Geologists Registration Board.
• Facilitate relationships and links with other ministries, state departments and governmental agencies with roles in mining and minerals development.
• Facilitate relationships and links with civil society organizations, community based organizations and other stakeholders with roles in mining and minerals development.
• Facilitate relationships between mineral right holders, County Governments and mining communities.
• Educate the communities on the mining operations taking place at their locality and interpreting for the community the various aspects of the project.
• Assist communities while negotiating for compensation and resettlements. 
• Monitor Corporate Social Responsibility and social economic impacts by Mineral Right holders.
• Assist communities during development of Community Development Agreements Committee.
• Arbitration of disputes arising from mining operations.