- In a Gazette Notice dated March 14, Kindiki ordered people in the affected areas to vacate effective immediately.
Image: MINA
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki has declared 13 areas as disturbed areas in Marsabit after a surge in gang violence.
In a Gazette Notice dated March 14, Kindiki ordered people in the affected areas to vacate effective immediately.
The areas are: Hilo Gorgora, Hilo Orofa, Hilo Walkite, Hilo Tanzania, Hilo Iress Abamartile, Hilo Gootu and Hilo Tessum Qalicha.
.Others are Hilo Karray, Hilo Hudda, Hilo Qoranjido, Hilo Irress Shindia, Hilo Rabaalee and Hilo Godde Haroressa.
The 13 areas are within the Dabel mining site.
In a gazette notice dated March 14, 2024, Kindiki ordered an immediate vacation of the area.
"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," he said
"Effective 0630 Hours today, 14th March 2024, the Dabel Artisinal Mining Sites described in Gazette Notice No.3032 of even date, have been declared dangerous and disturbed and vacation orders issued," reads the Gazette Notice No.3032," Kindiki added.
He was speaking at the Dabel Artisinal Mining sites, in Marasabit on Thursday.
CS Kindiki also announced that no person shall be allowed in the gazetted read without permission from the authority.
"Pursuant to Section 8(1) of the Public Order Act, Cap 56 of the Laws of Kenya, and Section 106(1) of the National Police Service Act, 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," reads the notice.
The gazetted areas now remain under the domination of National security agencies.
"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," Kindiki added.
The orders by the Interior Boss shall remain in force at all times, however, they may be terminated, withdrawn, varied, continued or otherwise altered as the Kindiki may direct.
The gazette notice comes following a spate of grave security breaches at the Dabel Artisinal Mining Sites within the Golbo Division of Marsabit County, leading to seven deaths
Image: MINA
The CS also noted that cases of rape, defilement and gender-based violence have been booked.
In addition, Kindiki reveals that a special team from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has taken over Investigations to identify and apprehend the offenders.
Early this week, at least three people were killed and eight injured in a fight between groups over the control of a gold mine site in Marsabit County.
The Sunday and Monday skirmishes are the latest in a series that have affected the sites in the area amid calls on authorities to intervene and address the same.
Police said the chaos broke out after a group of miners found a shallow grave at the site and on excavating it, they found a body of one of them who had been missing.
According to police, this prompted one group to target another group of miners in the area accusing them of killing the one who was found buried in the shallow grave.
In the process, according to police, two miners were stoned to death while eight others sustained serious injuries.
A team of police officers rushed to the scene after the Monday, March 11 skirmishes and contained the violence.
They found the bodies lying at the site while the injured were rushed to hospital.
Police said the victims are in stable condition amid tension of retaliation from the other affected group.
More police officers were sent to the area to ensure the safety of all amid considerations to close the sites for a while. The area has deposits of gold, which miners venture to excavate even with poor conditions.
Some of the miners are killed when the walls of the sites collapse.
Image: MINA