Jonathan Manyindo

4 August 2010

Nairobi — A year after the murder of 71-year-old geologist and gemstone miner Campbell Bridges, the vast ranches of Mwatate and Voi have become no-go areas as armed herdsmen have taken over the mining fields.

Tension has been high, with some of Mr Bridges' mining associates receiving death and evacuation threats from unknown people.

The Scottish geologist was attacked with knives, clubs and spears in what is believed was a dispute over mining rights.

Police arrested two people and are still looking for the rest of the gang. Taita deputy police boss Justus Kitetu confirmed that insecurity was rife in the volatile mining fields.

He blamed ranch owners for signing lease agreements with outsiders for their animals to graze on their land.

"We understand there are people living on the ranches, grazing and illegally carrying out mining activities.

"We cannot control the situation because those who leased out the land are unwilling to review the agreements," he said.

Mr Kitetu was speaking after Voi residents last week held demonstrations for two days against increasing insecurity in the area.

The demonstrators alleged that police officers had been colluding with criminals to harass residents, and were getting away with it.

"It is true that the residents protested and we have realised that there was a lapse in our systems," he said.

He said a new officer commanding station and a deputy had been posted to the station with strict instructions to weed out the criminals.

He also blamed the increased crime on too many idle people and numerous drinking outlets in the town that did not observe stipulated operating times.

The police chief said criminals hide and plan their activities in these establishments.

Last month, four vehicles, two of them buses, were carjacked at gunpoint in Voi Town, while about 10 people are believed to have been killed by criminals.