State shuts down Marsabit gold mines after clashes that killed 7 people

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki has ordered the closure of Dabel Artisinal Mining sites in Marsabit county and gazetted them as dangerous and disturbed following clashes between rival gangs that led to seven deaths.

The 13 sites are located within the general area of Hillo in Dabel location are Hillo Gorgora, Hillo Orofa, Hillo Walkite, Hillo Tanzania, Hillo Irress Abamartille, Hillo Gootu, Hillo Tessum Qalicha, Hillo Karray, Hillo Hudda, Hillo Qoranjido, Hillo Irress AShindia, Hillo Rabaalee and Hillo Godde Haroressa.

Consequently, no one will be allowed in the mining sites at any time starting today without direct authority from the Marsabit county police commander by Section (8) of the Public Order Act and anyone currently at the sites has been ordered to vacate.

"This notice takes effect from 0630hrs on March 14, 2024, for 30 days and may be withdrawn, varied, continued or otherwise altered as appropriate and as the Cabinet Secretary may direct," the gazette notice states.

The move follows a spate of grave security breaches at the mining sites that forced the Government to take measures to arrest the escalation of violence and other criminal activities in the area.

Security officials at the Dabel Artisinal Mining sites in Moyale, Marsabit County on March 13, 2024.

"The area has been rife with armed criminals facilitating trade in narcotic drugs, while seven (7) people including two(2) aliens were killed this week in gang rivalries among the illegal artisanal miners on site. Cases of rape, defilement, and gender-based violence have been booked. A special team from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has taken over Investigations to identify and apprehend the offenders," a statement from the Interior Ministry said.

The mining sites now remain under the domination of National security agencies and no access to, or activity of any nature whatsoever is permitted in the said areas during the pendency of the orders herein.

On Wednesday, County Commissioner Norbert Komora ordered the thousands of miners to leave the mining site within 24 hours saying the unregulated mining activities were a threat to security.

"The County Police Commander should ensure there is no one left behind by the time the 24 hours lapse," Komora said.

While police sources insist the violence was prompted by a dispute between two miners over some gold they had discovered, unconfirmed reports indicate that the clashes began after the body of a man who had gone missing earlier was found buried in a shallow grave within the site.

Apart from the deaths, several people were injured and treated at local hospitals within Moyale during the altercation between two groups from different communities in what security agencies suspect could be a fight over control of the site.

A section of the Hillo Gold Mine that has been closed down by the government over security concerns. (Photo: Waweru Wairimu)

Komora said the government had no option but to close down the mines where miners from different parts of the country and neighbouring Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania and South Sudan have been working.

"The government will not respect you if you cannot respect yourselves. It is so sad that the killings are happening during the holy month of Ramadan. The time to negotiate is over," Komora said.

The directive has elicited mixed reactions among the miners with some saying they were ready to leave while others vowed to stay put.

Molu Guyo, a worker at the site, expressed fears that he might be unable to provide for his family saying that he has been supporting them with income from the site for the past year.

"I am willing and ready to leave for the sake of security. We cannot be losing people in such gruesome ways," another miner who has worked at the site for the past two months said.

Another miner, Wario Dima who hails from neighbouring Ethiopia, appealed to the government to ferry them to Moyale town to facilitate their leaving, saying there were no vehicles regularly plying the Hilo-Moyale stretch.

"I am sick and I do not know how I will get to Moyale because there are no vehicles along this route," he said.

The growing tension has made it difficult for the miners to access basic amenities such as water as the businessmen who deliver the items at the camp fear being attacked.