Nairobi, April 14 -- Kenya has deployed a special police unit to end widespread illegal exploration of minerals across the country, Mining Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi has said.

The Mining Police Unit is pursuing miners, prospectors and dealers violating the industry law and regulations. The unit is under the command of the Inspectorate of Mines.

"We have received quite a number of police officers who are already working and very soon, you will hear of some arrests over illegal mining," Mr Mwangi said in a telephone interview.

Read: Kenya, Uganda tighten controls of mining sector

"We have procured several vehicles which have been provided to our inspectorate team to facilitate the enforcement and compliance."

Illegal exploration...