One person has been reported dead, while two others were injured after a mine collapsed at an illegal mining field in Hillo, Moyale sub-county in Marsabit County.
Interestingly the incident occurred in an area gazetted by the government as a disturbed area and placed under security operation round the clock.
The artisanal miners who include foreigners have been allegedly clandestinely allowed to continue mining gold within 13 sites in the mineral rich Dabel ward despite Interior CS Prof. Kithure Kindiki gazzete notice of March 13, 2024, which banned all artisanal mining and other human activities within that area.
Marsabit county criminal investigations officer (CCIO) Luka Tumbo told KNA that investigations have commenced into the incident to establish how the victims accessed the area despite a ban by the government on the activity.
“I am from the ground and it is true that one person died when a gold mine caved in while two others were injured,” confirmed the CCIO.
It could not be immediately established how foreigners accessed the mines, which were declared a security zone about two and half months ago with the responsibility to effect the ban bestowed on the county police commander.
In a visit to the site, Prof Kindiki instructed the county police commander to ensure nobody including government officials would be allowed into the gazzetted area.
The CS had also expressed concern that the illegal mining activities, which were mainly being carried out by foreigners had been allowed to go on for a long time and directed that money be released to facilitate the security personnel deployed to the area to effectively carry out their mandate.
The proceeds derived from the exploitation of the valuable minerals have been of minimal benefit if any because the investors and artisanal miners are not licensed.
The illegal immigrants have caused a lot of environmental degradation in the about 60 kilometer square mining fields that also boast of large deposits of chromite among other minerals.
Besides being a threat to the national security, it is also suspected that the proceeds from illegal mining activities were being channeled to fund criminals.
The fortune has attracted miners from many African countries that include Ethiopia, Sudan, DRC, Tanzania and Nigeria.
By Sebastian Miriti
