Mandera County Senator Billow Kerrow has criticized the move by the government, to close down quarries in the North-Eastern region.
Kerrow noted that the decision contradicts the government’s repeated assurance that it will ensure security of all Kenyans in the region hit by terror attacks.
The senator argued that the quarries are within areas with a high concentration of security officers estimated at over 800 including KDF, GSU, RDU, regular and administration police
According to the Senator closing the quarries will adversely affect the livelihoods of many local workers from the region.
He added that that the latest action by the government to close down quarries is bound to embolden the terrorists.
Mandera East Deputy County Commissioner Elvis Korir yesterday announced the ban which he followed the assessment of the security in the area.
“We have decided to suspend quarrying activities especially in Mandera East on security reasons but once we reorganise our apparatus the stone miners will resume work,” Mr Korir.
Al-Shabaab militants have in the past targeted quarry workers, with the latest incident in July, 2015 claiming 14 lives.
See Also: 14 Killed in Fresh Mandera Attack
