Seven Chinese nationals have been convicted for engaging in unauthorised mining activities along the Wei-Wei River in Sigor, Pokot Central sub-county. The convictions were handed down by the Kapenguria Law Courts following their arrest during a joint enforcement operation in February.
The suspects were apprehended on 12 February 2025 during a raid led by the Mining Investigations Unit in collaboration with officials from the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs. Authorities discovered large-scale mining operations at the site, which was found to be operating without any official licence or regulatory approval.
At the location, investigators seized heavy machinery including six lorries, a water bowser, two excavators, two bulldozers, one caterpillar, two industrial generators, and a storage container housing additional equipment.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the seven entered Kenya and commenced mining operations without securing the required authorisation from the Ministry of Mining,” the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed in a statement posted on X.
Further enquiries revealed that two of the individuals did not possess work permits or alien registration documents, in violation of Kenyan immigration laws.
Samples taken from the mining site were later tested at the Government Mining Laboratory, corroborating the nature of the illegal operations.
On 17 April 2025, the seven appeared before Principal Magistrate Court No. 2 in Kapenguria. Each of the accused pleaded guilty and was convicted based on their admissions.
The court imposed fines of KSh3 million on each individual for unauthorised mining activities. In default, they face one year’s imprisonment. An additional KSh400,000 fine was levied on each for working without valid permits, with a further one-year prison term if unpaid. The two individuals found without immigration documentation were each fined an extra KSh200,000 or face six months in prison.
The court ruled that all sentences are to be served consecutively and ordered that the individuals be deported upon completion of their jail terms or after settling their fines.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a multi-agency team arrested a 28-year-old woman in possession of 294 grams of cocaine. The suspect, who was travelling on a bus from Moyale to Nairobi, was intercepted at a roadblock along the Northern Frontier route.
Police said the woman raised suspicion through her behaviour, prompting a search by female officers. The narcotics were discovered hidden in her body. She is currently being held at Moyale Police Station, with anti-narcotics officers now leading the investigation and preparing to initiate formal charges.
