Following a spate of grave security breaches at the Dabel Artisinal Mining Sites within Golbo Division of Marsabit County, the Government has taken measures to arrest the escalation of violence and other criminal activities in the area.

The Ministry of Interior says that the area has been rife with armed criminals facilitating trade in narcotic drugs, while seven (7) people including two (2) aliens were killed this week in gang rivalries among the illegal artisanal miners on site.

“Cases of rape, defilement and gender based violence have been booked. A special team from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has taken over Investigations to identify and apprehend the offenders,” says the Ministry.

This development has prompted the government, through Gazette Notice No.3032, to declared the area dangerous and disturbed.

Henceforth, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has ordered the closure of the mining sites effective 0630 Hours today (14th March 2024).

“No person may be found present in the areas specified in the Gazette Notice at any time without the written authority of the County Police Commander, Marsabit County. As such, the Gazetted areas remain under the domination of National security agencies and no access to, or activity of any nature whatsoever is permitted in the said areas during the pendency of the orders herein,” CS Kindiki ordered.