In the Hillo mining areas of Moyale Sub-county, Marsabit County, authorities are grappling with a surge in illegal mining activities that have tragically claimed at least four lives in the past four days.
According to Moyale Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Benedict Munyoki, the region has seen an influx of unauthorized miners numbering in the hundreds, attempting to access prohibited gold mines.
Despite efforts to secure the area, some individuals managed to infiltrate and began excavating for the valuable mineral, leading to fatal cave-ins that resulted in the deaths of three individuals on Thursday night and another fatality reported today.
Additionally, one artisan miner sustained critical injuries and is currently hospitalized at Moyale Sub-county Hospital, fighting for his life.
The government had previously banned unlicensed mining activities across 13 sites in Hillo, Dabel ward, earlier this year through a gazette notice issued by Interior and National Administration CS Prof. Kithure Kindiki.
The decision aimed to address concerns related to state security, economic impact, and safety hazards associated with unregulated mining.
The influx of miners, including foreigners from countries such as Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia, has exacerbated the situation, with uncontrolled extraction of gold and chromite valued in millions of Kenyan shillings.
Authorities suspect that proceeds from these activities could be funding criminal enterprises.
In response to the escalating risks, the government declared the area disturbed and initiated continuous security surveillance to enforce the ban and protect public safety.
The recent fatalities bring the total number of deaths at the mines this year to 17, underscoring the ongoing challenges and dangers posed by illegal mining operations despite regulatory measures in place.
Authorities continue to urge vigilance and compliance with mining regulations to prevent further loss of life and mitigate the adverse impacts of illegal mining on community welfare and environmental stability in the region.
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