At least one person was confirmed dead after suspected illegal artisanal miners clashed, as they speculated for gold in the outlawed Dabel mining belt in Moyale sub-county, Marsabit County.

Marsabit County Police Commander (CPC) Leonard Kimaiyo said they had commenced investigations into the Saturday evening incident, which also left another person nursing serious injuries.

Kimaiyo told the press that the incident happened at Hilo Tanzania, one of the 13 gold mining blocks in Dabel that the government had previously outlawed and declared as dangerous and disturbed.

“It is believed that the miners sneaked into the gold mine because the excavation site remains a disturbed area and is always under security surveillance,” he said, adding that detectives are investing the matter.

Both the deceased and the injured person were male adults aged 25 years. They were involved in a fierce stone throwing fight following misunderstanding over the illegal gold mining.

The body of the deceased was moved to the Moyale level four hospital mortuary, while the injured man is receiving treatment in the same hospital, where he was admitted.

Meanwhile, the Police Commander has ordered other persons, who might have sneaked into the mining fields, which are still gazetted as dangerous and disturbed, to immediately move out.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Sebastian Miriti