Police IG Douglas Kanja at the Hillo site on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. NPS
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja led a police team to goldmines in
Dabel, Moyale, Marsabit County to inspect compliance with the ban on mining
activities there.
Kanja
flew to the sites on Wednesday, December 11, following claims a gold mine
collapsed in the Dabel area trapping some of the miners.
He said no one died at the site.
“Contrary to the reports, no death was reported and I have confirmed the security agents are in charge here,” he said.
He held discussions with the local elders and security agencies in the area as part of efforts to tame the illegal mining activities there.
Kanja said the government's decision to close the Dabel goldmines remains in force.
“The ban on mining in these areas is in force. Currently, the multi-agency security team supported by the National Youth Service is backfilling the mine holes,” he said.
He was accompanied by members of the security and intelligence committees from the Eastern Region.
Reports suggested there were about 52 miners at the Hillo goldmine site when it collapsed. Kanja denied the reports.
The area
had been rife with armed criminals facilitating trade in narcotic drugs, while
dozens of people including two aliens, were killed in April in gang
rivalry between illegal artisan miners on site.
Most of the gold mines have been found to be unsafe.
Hillo Goldmine is among the sites that were gazetted as disturbed areas in May
2024, and their reopening was in process before the tragedy occurred.
Authorities say activities at the goldmine were illegal and permission had not
been granted for its operation.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki and Kanja extended a declaration of the Hillo goldmine site in Marsabit County as dangerous and disturbed.
They gazetted the declaration on October 4, 2024, saying they had among others,
consulted the National Security Council before making the decision.
The declaration of the gold mine as dangerous was first made on September 3,
2024.
The Hillo goldmine sites include Hillo Gorgora, Hillo Orofa, Hillo Walkite,
Hillo Tanzania, Hillo Irress Abamartille, Hillo Gootu, Hillo Tessum Qalicha,
Hillo Karray, Hillo Hudda, Hillo Qoranjido, Hillo Irress Shindia, Hillo
Rabaalee, Hillo Godde Haroressa.
They said on the taking effect of the notice, all inhabitants of the said areas
are ordered, with immediate effect, to surrender all arms in their possession
to the nearest police station, police post, police camp and National Government
Administration Offices during the hours of the day for safe custody.
“All arms surrendered shall be returned to their owners upon the revocation or
termination of this notice Dated October 4, 2024,” they said.
Police had complained gangs had taken over the sites leading to the deaths of
more than a dozen people.
The site has been a drama scene between state agencies and miners who want
to venture there for gold deposits.
The gold mines were closed for safety reasons.
The Hilo Gold mine, situated near the Kenya-Ethiopia border in Dabel, has been
a focal point for gold mining activities, attracting numerous youths seeking to
earn a living through gold scavenging.
However, due to safety and security concerns, the government ordered the
closure of the mine on March 14, 2024.
Despite the closure, some miners continued their operations illegally, leading
to deaths.
Kindiki closed the site in March this year after deadly clashes between
communities over mining rights.
The directive by Kindiki, which also banned unlicensed commercial mining, came just a week after two people died following another collapse.
“To ensure regularised artisanal mining that meets public safety and environmental standards, the Government has banned all artisanal mining activities as well as unlicenced commercial mining,” he said then.
