Quarry mining was brought to a halt as police evicts the miners in a land they claim belongs to Murang’a county government
By The Mountain Journal Crew
The police have evicted hundreds of quarry mines l working near Kihiu Mwiri farm in lower Gatanga from a disputed parcel of land.
The law enforcers enforcing a high court order sought by fruit processor Delmonte Kenya evicted the miners from an area they had contested as a public land.
The eviction order was issued by Justice Grace Kemei of Environment and Lands Court in Murang’a early this year that brought to a halt mining activities along Thika river in Gatanga subcounty.
The defiant miners were surprised by the operation led by Gatanga Deputy Police Commander Benson Muchemi.
A miner John Migwi said their business was fully registered by the Murang’a county government and all levies paid.
Last year, Kandara Residents Association had raised an outcry claiming the mining activities contravene the environmental management regulations.
Photo/The late PMG Kamau who chaired the Kandara Resident Association
The association has been pursuing to reclaim 6,500 acres of land from the fruit processor on claims their fore fathers were violently evicted by the white settlers from their ancestral land where there are hundreds of pineapple blocks.
Gatanga Deputy County commissioner David Rotich said the police evicted the miners with utmost care to ensure there was no crisis.
“The miners complied and begged for time to remove their personal effects from their working places,” said the administrator.
Kemei in her orders overturned a magistrate ruling that had allowed the quarry miners to continue with their activities on the land.
In the ruling, the judge directed Ithanga Police Station Commander to enforce the order.
You can get in touch with our Newdesk on
