Joho Issues Stern Warning to Illegal Miners

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Mining and Blue Economy CS Ali Hassan Joho at a past event, January 1, 2025
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Ali Hassan Joho

Mining CS Ali Hassan Joho has sent a stern warning to illegal foreigners and Kenyans engaged in illegal mining, threatening prosecution and jail terms. 

He spoke during a raid at a go-down in Nairobi where four illegal mineral harvesters were arrested. 

The four, 3 Chinese nationals and a Kenyan were arrested with plans in top gear to sell copper, lead, zinc, and iron among other minerals. 

To curb illegal mining in the country, Joho said that the ministry will do everything possible to protect Kenya's resources from exploitation by illegal agents. 

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Go-down housing illegal minerals raided by CS Joho, January 23, 2025.

"Officers from the  Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested four people including three Chinese nationals and one Kenyan for illegal mining across the country," he said.

The four were accused of operating illegal mining activities in Kitui, Migori, and Embu Counties. They were arrested during an operation by the DCI in conjunction with the mining police unit.

They were accused of dealing with at least ten minerals worth millions of shillings. During the operation, copper, zinc, lead, and Iron worth Ksh 200 million were among the minerals impounded.

According to the DCI, the seized minerals were illegally mined and traded at Kins and Shenad Business Parks and Eagle Plane Estate in Athi River in Machakos County.

The illegal minerals were housed in a go-down owned by a Kenyan but leased to a Chinese company and had been housing the minerals found from the illegal activities.

According to the CS, the government will not only take action against illegal miners but also against people enabling the activities like people who lease business spaces to house illegally mined minerals.

"Whoever is assisting them must also pay, nobody will be spared, for example, this person who leased this space to the Chinese, they must know what is going on, and people must take responsibility," the CS warned.

The CS revealed that his ministry will issue an official notice to all physical space owners and warn them against housing illegal businesses. According to Joho, owners of business spaces must be aware of what is going on in the spaces they lease.

Kenyans and foreigners involved in illegal mining have been warned that they will all be nabbed, as the CS maintained that nobody is above the law and all culprits must face the law.

In January, the CS launched an investigative arm in the Mining Police Unit in the ministry to end illegal exploration and mining of minerals across the country.

“When minerals are stolen, they are gone for good. I want to ensure that we have teams in place to ensure the law is followed," the CS assured at the time.

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CS Mining, Ali Hassan Joho, November 13, 2024.
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Ali Hassan Joho


 

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