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State bans unlicensed mining in Migori after deaths of 6 people

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki during a meeting with top security officials in Migori County on March 25, 2024. (Photo: MINA)

By Mary Wambui | Monday, March 25, 2024

A similar move may follow in the Kom area of Isiolo County where the regional security Committee was ordered to assess its security and safety and report back for action.

The government has banned all artisanal and unlicensed mining activities in Migori County's mining sites following the death of six persons in the last two months.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said the small illegal artisanal mining sites in the county pose grave public safety risks resulting in deaths when mine shafts cave in.

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"Last week, two Kenyans died in one of such sites in Nyatike, while four others died two months ago at Sango," he said and directed the county security and intelligence committee to enforce the ban with immediate effect.

Kindiki made the pronouncement during a work tour of the county where he held a closed-door security meeting with the County Security Committee on Monday morning.

"To ensure regularised artisanal mining that meets public safety and environmental standards, the Government has banned all artisanal mining activities as well as unlicensed commercial mining," he said.

Marsabit ban

The ban follows a similar move in Marsabit County barely two weeks ago that saw the government ban activities in sites in the Dabel area over insecurity.

On March 14, Kindiki gazetted the Dabel mining sites 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.

A similar move may follow in the Kom area of Isiolo County where the regional security Committee was ordered to assess its security and safety and report back for action.

While waiting for the report, he ordered the mining sites in the area be closed noting that some have been harboring criminals.

A week after the closure, five illegal miners were arrested at a mining site in Merti, Isiolo County and an AK 47 rifle was recovered.

The miners were found in a vehicle in the area where a search revealed they had the weapon, mobile phones, natural stones, a driller and two crowbars.