27 quarry workers were arrested in Mandera town after they defied closing stone mines near Kenya’s border with Somalia.
Early this month, Kenyan government ordered the closure of several quarries in the outskirt of Mandera town following a deadly attack by Al-Shabab.
The workers have been protesting against the directive to shut down the mines since early this week.
The stone diggers who are all non-local were apprehended after they vowed to foot from Mandera to Nairobi.
Mandera County Commissioner, Mr. Kuswa Olaka said the workers are being held at Mandera GK Prison for their own safety.
“These people started walking from Mandera to Nairobi, on the way they were shouting and that could endanger their lives. We dispatched police officers who gave them chase and arrested them,” said Olaka.
The quarry workers were arrested from Qarbogole area, some 20 kilometres outside of Mandera town, according to the police.
They were arraigned in court this morning where they were charged with endangering their lives.
They were also charged of causing a disturbance in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by shouting and blocking the entrance to county commissioner’s office in Mandera town on May 21.
The stone diggers were each granted a Sh50,000 bond with a surety of a similar amount or a Sh10,000 cash bail.
Early this month, Al-Shabab fighters attacked Shimbir Futuma villages, just 65km away from Mandera.
The group killed four non-local quarry workers.
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