Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki has ordered the closure of the Dabel Artisanal mining sites within Golbo Division, Marsabit county and gazette them as dangerous.
This follows clashes between rival gangs of miners leading to seven deaths.
“In response to the anarchy that erupted within the Dabel artisinal mining sites in Golbo, Marsabit county, the government has gazetted the area as “dangerous and disturbed” effective 0630 Hours today, March 14, 2024. Consequently, security agencies have taken control of the area and cordoned it off, with all persons within the sites ordered to vacate with immediate effect. According to the Gazette Notice drafted by CS Kithure Kindiki, no civilian will access the sites without the written permission of Marsabit County Police Commander.” The Interior Ministry said through an update on X, formerly Twitter.
In a Kenya gazette notice published on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, Kindiki declared the areas as disturbed and dangerous, issuing vacation orders.
He stated that no person should be found in those areas without written authority from the Marsabit County Police Commander.
The orders shall remain in force at all times, but they may be terminated, withdrawn, varied, continued or otherwise altered as the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration may direct.
This move by the government follows rampant acts of violence in the Dabel artisanal mining sites.
The area has been rife with armed criminals facilitating trade in narcotic drugs, where 7 people, including 2 aliens were killed this week in gang rivalries among the artisanal miners.
Cases of rape, defilement and gender-based violence have also been reported in the area.