NAIROBI, Kenya- The government has initiated plans to reopen the Hillo Gold Mines in Marsabit County, with Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Hassan Ali Joho constituting a multi-agency team to assess the site and recommend a safe resumption of mining operations.
The move follows a directive by President William Ruto aimed at reviving mining activities at the gold-rich site while ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards.
Speaking during a high-level consultative meeting on Wednesday, Joho said the team has been given seven working days, effective July 23, to conduct a comprehensive field assessment and advise on a structured reopening of the mines.
“The team will undertake a comprehensive field assessment and advise on the structured reopening of the Hillo gold mines and the resumption of mining activities in a safe, orderly and sustainable manner, in strict compliance with the Mining Act, 2016,” the Cabinet Secretary said.
The meeting brought together Marsabit Governor Mohamed Ali, Moyale MP Prof. Guyo Waqo Jaldesa, Saku MP Dido Rasso, North Horr MP Wario Adhe, Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute and County Commissioner Stanley Kamande, among other government officials.
According to the Ministry, the multi-agency team will verify and reconfirm demarcated artisanal mining zones, validate registered mining cooperatives and advise on the documentation and regulatory requirements necessary for the issuance of artisanal mining permits.
The exercise is expected to pave the way for the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining activities, a sector that supports thousands of livelihoods but has often been characterised by inadequate regulation and safety concerns.
In a parallel directive, Joho ordered an intensified nationwide crackdown on illegal mining, warning that individuals operating outside the law would face prosecution.
He urged artisanal and small-scale miners to comply fully with the Mining Act, 2016, saying adherence to the law is critical to protecting lives, conserving the environment and ensuring responsible exploitation of the country’s mineral resources.
“Those found engaging in illegal mining activities or otherwise contravening the law will face appropriate legal action,” he warned.
The Cabinet Secretary also commented on the recent mining tragedy in Lolgorian, Narok County, where five people are feared to have died after a mining tunnel collapsed.
Joho conveyed the government’s condolences to the bereaved families and said investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He said authorities were pursuing key leads and pledged that anyone found to have endangered lives through negligence or unlawful mining practices would be held accountable.
The planned reopening of Hillo Gold Mines comes as the government seeks to unlock the economic potential of Kenya’s mineral resources while improving safety standards and formalising artisanal mining.
Marsabit County hosts significant gold deposits, with Hillo among the country’s best-known artisanal mining sites.