Murkomen orders arrests of commercial miners operating illegally in Turkana, West Pokot

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen has instructed security agencies to arrest those engaging in commercial mining despite the activity being halted over a lack of necessary licenses in Turkana and West Pokot Counties.

Speaking in West Pokot during his ongoing Jukwaa la Usalama forums, Murkomen noted that while artisanal miners are allowed to mine, the rest doing commercial mining were stopped, some are still doing it at night with the protection of the militia.

"We want to ensure this is a sector properly organised so that it can benefit the people. The mining Act has a provision on what the local community is going to get but if you do the kind of mining that is going on, the local community is not going to get anything, we also want to ensure the government of Kenya gets its fair share," said the CS, adding that the state will only get its share if the sector is properly regulated, including ensuring that all miners have acquired the right documents.

He noted that the illegal miners comprise foreigners who do not have visas, work or business permits to carry out such operations in the country.

Most of the gold mining occurs along the border between the two counties, including some parts of Kacheliba, Kambi Karaya and Lami Nyeusi areas. It was halted due to safety concerns and illegal operations.

This followed a series of fatal accidents and concerns about environmental pollution. As a result, the government ordered the closure of illegal mines and is enforcing licensing requirements.

In January this year, West Pokot County Commissioner Khalif Abdullahi said that more than 500 illegal mines were operating in the region and ordered their immediate closure following a spate of fatalities.

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