We will be dead if nobody rescues us, miners in another Mandera quarry tell Kenyan Government

Al-Shabaab fighters during a military drill. Miners in a quarry that is 30km away from Monday's attack site want to be evacuated.

As news of the massacre of 36 quarry workers streamed in yesterday, at least 30 miners who were in a separate quarry want to be evacuated.

John Kung'u and John Omuolo said the miners are living in fear of attacks, adding that their colleagues fled the area following the attack on a bus where 28 people were killed, and Monday night attack that left 36 miners dead.

The miners work in a quarry in Ndimu, Elwak, about 30km from the scene of Monday night's attack.

"We will be dead if nobody rescues us. Local residents came today (yesterday) morning and demanded we pay the debts we had from them, only for them to leave us behind. We are alone and some of us have no money since they gave out everything," said Mr Kung'u, a father of five.

Mr Omuolo told The Standard on phone that he had only Sh1,000, which was sent to him by his cousin, while they pay Sh2,800 to reach Nairobi, while Kung'u claimed he only had Sh2,000.

"We also spend nights in Garissa and that means I would require more money. I am desperate for help. I am appealing to be evacuated from this place. I better go back to Nyakach and do other odd jobs other than risk my life," said Omuolo.

 armed security

Omuolo's wife and five children live in Nyakach, while Kung'u's wife and five children are in Mai Mahiu.

Omuolo went to Mandera three years ago, while Kung'u has been in the area for the last one year. Kung'u said he last went home six months ago.

They said they were about 100 miners, but majority of them left after the bus attack.

"We received reports today that other quarry miners were shot dead last night and we fear our camp will be the next. There is no security agents, despite our employer promising to bring armed security. We have been abandoned,' said Kung'u.

The miners alleged their employer fled and he could not be reached on phone.

The miners, who are from Kiambu, Nyeri, Kisumu, Busia and other parts of western Kenya called on the Government to evacuate them.

"We are appealing for help. We may be dead any moment if we continue living here, while we do not have money for fare," said Omuolo.

At least 30 quarry miners are stuck in Ndimu in Elwak, Mandera County, even after yesterday dawn attack where 36 miners were shot dead by suspected Al-Shabaab attackers.

Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the latest attack.