About 29 foreigners of Chinese origin were on Thursday, April 25, arrested in Migori after being found running an illegal mining site.
In the multi-agency crackdown led by Mining Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi, the foreigners were arrested alongside three locals.
Following the arrests, PS Mwangi directed the immediate shutdown of the mining sites and further issued a stern warning to those undertaking mining activities without valid licences.
According to Mwangi, the country was losing millions in revenue that could have benefited the national and county governments.
"We shall be here for the next seven days and we are going for the mine operators who are doing it illegally and even those who are doing smelting," Mwangi announced.
The PS directed that the illegal mining sites should remain closed until the operators of the sites obtain the licenses, vowing to deal with those who had been arrested for the illegal activity.
PS Mwangi also noted the miners had violated the environmental laws something which he stated had led to environmental degradation.
The move by PS Mwangi comes against the backdrop of a directive issued by Interior CS Kithure Kindiki who in March ordered shut down of all illegal artisan mining sites in the country.
Speaking in Migori, the CS noted revealed that the miners were not only operating without proper registration but were also posing risks to Kenyans.
“To ensure regularised artisanal mining that meets public safety and environmental standards, the Government has banned all artisanal mining activities as well as unlicensed commercial mining,” CS Kindiki noted.
“The Migori County Security and Intelligence Committee (CSIC) is directed to enforce this directive immediately.”
Kindiki made the orders following the deaths of two people who died in the area while undertaking an illegal mining activity.
