Govt extends ban at Marsabit gold mines, orders surrender of firearms 

The government has re-gazetted 13 Hillo gold mines within Dabel in Moyale, Marsabit County, as dangerous and disturbed, and extended the ban for an additional 30 days to prevent crime in the area.

The sites are Hillo Orofa, Gorgora, Walkite, Tanzania, Gootu, Karray, Rabaalee, Hudda, Irress Abamartile, Qoranjido, Godde Haroressa, Irress Shindia, and Tessum Qalicha.

Acting Interior CS Musalia Mudavadi stated that "the CS may direct" the withdrawal or continuation of the ban.

Since mid-March, when former CS Kithure Kindiki announced the first ban, clashes between police officers manning the sites and illegal miners have killed at least eight people, including a police officer.

The government reported that armed criminals were facilitating the trade in narcotics in the area, citing cases of rape, defilement, and gender-based violence at the sites.

Consequently, acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli has issued a notice prohibiting the use of arms in the gazetted areas.

"On publication of the notice, all inhabitants are ordered to surrender all arms with immediate effect to the nearest police station, post, camp, and National Government Administration offices during the day for safe custody," the August 2 gazette notice read in part.

During a tree planting drive in Saku, Marsabit, two months after the first ban, Kindiki insisted that the ban was still in effect despite the lack of a new notice.

Governor Mohamud Ali, Thursday lamented that despite the closure of the mines, invasions by illegal miners remained rife, leading to clashes with police and the loss of lives.

He said the discovery of gold at Hillo had attracted more than 20,000 miners, and the number was likely to grow due to immigrants from neighbouring countries.

"The Hillo mining area holds the potential to transform the local community and contribute significantly to our country's economy, and this economic opportunity must not be abandoned," he shared online.

The county boss further claimed that his cabinet had approved a concept note outlining various projects to facilitate safe and regulated mining activities in the area, but didn't provide specifics on the interventions.