A big raid in Nairobi and Athi River took over 200 million shillings worth of minerals. The raid targeted people selling minerals illegally and happened in a neighborhood and an industrial area.
Three people from other countries and one Kenyan were arrested. The police found many bags of valuable minerals, such as iron ore, copper, zinc, and lead. Some of these are used to make car batteries, and they are worth a lot of money.
Hassan Joho, the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, was there during the raid. He said, "These minerals are very valuable. But we are not getting any money from them. The sellers have not been paying taxes."
The police also found a spectrometer, which is used to find radioactive minerals. This shows the scale of the illegal operation.
Joho recently started a new investigation team in his ministry. They will fight illegal mining. He said minerals in Kenya belong to everyone, even future generations.
"When minerals are stolen, they are gone forever. I want to make sure we have teams to enforce the law," Joho said. He also wants mining companies to work more with local communities. He wants them to pay what they owe and to work with county governments.
This raid is part of the government's ongoing effort to stop illegal mining. Last year, a special police unit called the Mining Police Unit was created to enforce the law in the mining industry.
The Mining Act of 2016 says illegal mining and selling minerals can be punished. The fines can be up to 10 million shillings. People can also go to jail for up to two years.
Three people from other countries and one Kenyan were arrested. The police found many bags of valuable minerals, such as iron ore, copper, zinc, and lead. Some of these are used to make car batteries, and they are worth a lot of money.
Hassan Joho, the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, was there during the raid. He said, "These minerals are very valuable. But we are not getting any money from them. The sellers have not been paying taxes."
The police also found a spectrometer, which is used to find radioactive minerals. This shows the scale of the illegal operation.
Joho recently started a new investigation team in his ministry. They will fight illegal mining. He said minerals in Kenya belong to everyone, even future generations.
"When minerals are stolen, they are gone forever. I want to make sure we have teams to enforce the law," Joho said. He also wants mining companies to work more with local communities. He wants them to pay what they owe and to work with county governments.
This raid is part of the government's ongoing effort to stop illegal mining. Last year, a special police unit called the Mining Police Unit was created to enforce the law in the mining industry.
The Mining Act of 2016 says illegal mining and selling minerals can be punished. The fines can be up to 10 million shillings. People can also go to jail for up to two years.
