Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali has directed the County Health Department to distribute condoms to gold miners as part of preparations for reopening the Dabel gold-mining site. This follows the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs’ announcement of strategic plans to revive operations at the troubled site, which has claimed 24 lives to date.

Governor Mohamud revealed that the decision came after miners made an unusual request during community consultations aimed at addressing issues at the artisanal site. “I received a peculiar request for condoms from some miners. I have instructed the County Secretary to coordinate with the health department to provide the necessary protective gear,” the governor stated.


Months of dialogue between the national government, county officials, and local communities led to an agreement to regulate and allocate mining zones properly. Speaking at a stakeholder meeting in Moyale, Mining Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi emphasized the initiative’s goal to create safe, sustainable, and profitable mining activities for the community. The PS also unveiled equipment, including graders and shovels, to rehabilitate mined areas as part of the process.

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Efforts include backfilling existing pits and shafts to curb illegal mining and establishing designated zones for artisanal miners with accompanying social amenities. The national government will allocate cooperative zones for miners and plan for future expansions. Additionally, the artisanal miners committed to building certified washrooms to meet sanitation standards.


During the meeting, Governor Mohamud criticized some elders who exited the discussions despite having signed agreements, urging sincerity in the process. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Mining will use a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by all parties to guide implementation.

Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo reported to Parliament that 15 cooperatives have been registered, reflecting the growing number of miners, which increased to 40,000 between 2023 and 2024. He also called out local politicians for hindering progress in reopening the site.