Families agony as quarry massacre survivors sneak back to Mandera

The house that James Muriithi, one of the quarry workers from Chieni village in Nyeri County who has returned to Mandera, is putting up at home. He went back to Mandera without informing his father, Michael Kamau. (PHOTO: KIBATA KIHU/ STANDARD)

Since May this year, Michael Kariuki and his wife Beth Wanjiru have not had a moment's peace after their 20-year-old son James Muriithi sneaked to Mandera County with the intention of working as a quarry miner.

"I listen to the radio everyday, praying that all is well in Mandera County. I can't sleep well nor can I be at peace as long as he is so far away trying to make a living," Wanjiru admitted.

According to the anxious parents, this is the third time their son has made the decision to travel to Mandera to eke out a living.

"He was only 17 when he went to Mandera the first time in 2014, and when 36 quarry workers were killed there it was the worst experience for us as a family," Kariuki explained.

The attacks on quarry workers, which took place on December 2, 2014, will forever be etched in the minds of Kenyans, more so the residents of Gatei, Gathathi, Kiganjo, Chieni, Chaka and several other villages in Chaka and Kiganjo who lost 18 young men.

That night Al Shabaab militants butchered 36 young men who were were sleeping in the quarry after a hard day's work.

Better pastures

However, two years down the line, the young men from Chaka, Nyeri, who survived the ordeal, have returned to the place where their colleagues were killed after life at home turned unbearable.

Over 10 men are now working in Mandera as they feel dissatisfied with the poor pay they they get in the quarries back home.

The fact that each home in Chieni village in Kieni Constituency has a young man who has gone to seek better pastures in the Mandera quarries gives the Kariukis hope that their son is safe, surrounded by friends.

"We are not the only family who spend our days uncertain if we will receive a call informing of an attack. We pray that they are safe because as a family we cannot ward off the threats our children face," Wanjiru said.

Kariuki admitted that if he had known his son was going to Mandera he would have persuaded him against the decision.

"He told his mother that he was going but she never disclosed to me until he left, after which he called me a week later, saying he had arrived in Mandera and was working in the quarries," Kariuki noted.

The last time he spoke to his son on the phone was two weeks ago. Kariuki confessed that when he received a call from The Standard, he feared for the worst.

"When you called me I thought there had been an attack in Mandera and I was fearful that you had brought me bad news, that is how anxious we are about our son's plight," he said.

The fruits of his son's labours in Mandera are, however, evident as he showed us Muriithi's three-roomed stone house which is still under construction.

"I am happy that he is making enough money to build a home for himself. For a 20- year-old, it is a great achievement. I know he will succeed in life as long as he remains safe," the father said.

Peter Wambugu, one of the survivors of the brutal killings, says he escaped death after he hid in the ceiling of the house they stayed in together with his colleagues on the fateful day.

Mr Wambugu recalls that they stayed in the roof from 11pm when the terrorists arrived to 2am when they heard police officers. All of the men killed were people he knew personally, his friends, something he admits traumatised him for a long period.

Despite the experience, Wambugu who now works at "Kwa Mahugu," a local quarry, declares that assured of his security, he would return to Mandera.

"In Mandera, I used to make Sh9,000 in three days because preparing a foot (one block) I was paid Sh33. I prepared up to 100 blocks per day. Here they paid Sh5 per foot. Definitely Mandera is better," admits Wambugu.

Wambugu says that over 10 of his colleagues have returned to Mandera after they were unable to support their families from the meagre pay they got in local quarries.

His neighbour and friend Robert Kamithii admitted that he too has a son in Mandera and he supports his son's decision to go to Mandera because he is investing back home.

Elaborate network

"You cannot stop them from going to Mandera because they are adults, and they are not doing so to commit crimes or join the terror groups but to make an honest living which is their right as young men," Mr Kamithi said.

He explained that the quarry workers have an elaborate network which they use to lure their friends back to Mandera County.

"They all know each other and peer pressure as well as the secrecy with which they conduct the recruitment leaves us as parents powerless to stop them from going back to Mandera," Kamithi said.

Some of the workers returned to Mandera after they were informed that quarry owners had promised increased the pay to Sh100 per foot (block).

Kevin Mureithi, another survivor of the 2014 massacre is, also toying with the idea of returning to Mandera, saying his finances have dwindled since.

"I built a Sh150,000 house within three months when I worked in Mandera, but from when I returned home there is nothing to show for it, I only get money for basic needs," he said.

Mr Mureithi said that were it not for the fear of annoying his mother, being her only son, he would have returned to Mandera long ago.

"She told me never to come back home if I ever return to Mandera. I want to go make enough money but she objects every time," said Mureithi.

Geoffrey Kareithi, who also escaped death, complained that since coming back there has been a lot of pressure as many people flood the quarry mines despite the little pay.

Kareithi urges the Government to provide security in the quarry mines in Mandera.

"We are ready to contribute among ourselves to pay somebody authorised by the Government to protect us because it is better than staying here," stated Kareithi.

Despite their lucky escape from the jaws of death, many other young men continue to make plans to return as the promise of a better future at home remain a pipe dream.

The promise of riches for the youths is more real in Mandera where their colleagues are sending money back home to build houses with their earnings there.