MOYALE: The collapse of an illegal gold mine in Hillo, Moyale sub County, Marsabit County, which resulted in the deaths of five miners, has ignited public outcry, with locals urging the government to take decisive action to prevent further fatalities. Despite a government ban on mining activities in the region, residents express frustration over ongoing safety hazards and environmental destruction.

According to Kenya News Agency, the tragic incident occurred on Tuesday, leaving five artisanal miners dead and five others critically injured. The Hillo mining belt, identified as a security and disturbed zone, continues to be a site of illegal mining activities despite official restrictions. In addition to the confirmed casualties, local authorities, including Golbo ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) Edin Adhi Dida, reported that five miners remain unaccounted for, raising fears that they might be trapped within the collapsed mine.

Local pastoralist communities have voiced concerns over the environmental impa
ct of the unlawful mining operations, which have devastated pastureland and led to significant deforestation. Earlier this year, the government prohibited mining in Hillo, a region known for its rich deposits of gold and other precious minerals, including chromite. The ban follows warnings from former Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, who highlighted the area’s dangerous conditions, which have led to over 40 deaths and necessitated a 24-hour security presence.

Dida has called for a comprehensive investigation into the illegal mining activities, emphasizing the loss of government revenue and the adverse effects on local communities’ income and development. The MCA criticized the government’s failure to enforce gazette notices in Hillo and Dabel, highlighting the ongoing fatalities and revenue losses, and urged for an urgent streamlining of mining operations to safeguard lives and resources.