Mombasa, KENYA: NEMA officials on Friday ordered the closure of the disputed Zam Zam quarry in Likoni that has pitted residents against stone miners over the past few weeks.
The NEMA officials accompanied by government officials raided the quarry on Friday before ordering its closure.
Led by the National Environment Management Authority Mombasa boss Mr. Stephen Wambua and the Likoni deputy county commissioner Eric Wamalevu, the officials ordered the residents to report anyone who will defy the order terming the quarry as illegal.
“Anyone that will be seen practicing this illegal business in Timboni, Shika Adabu or in any other place in this area he/she will going be dealt with according to the law and residents must respect the law. “Likoni Deputy County Commissioner Erick Mulevu said.
The DCC said police would be dispatched to the area to ensure no quarrying activities will take place.
Residents have in the past week been complaining of the danger and risk the quarry is exposing them to.
Amina Idris, one of the residents told Baraka FM that her son is one of the victims affected by the quarrying activities.
“My son fractured his leg after he fell into the quarry when playing with friends.” Amina said.
The residents had called on the government to close down the quarry located in the once disputed Waitiki land arguing that the government allocated them land to build and not to conduct mining activities.
Houses in the area had already started reeling from the effects of the stone quarrying activities.
Baraka FM counted not less than 5 houses which have developed cracks with residents saying that the cracks are as a result of the quarrying activity.
However, the officials urged those living near the quarry to vacate so as to avert tragedy.
