Gov’t orders closure of over 500 gold mines in West Pokot

The government has ordered the immediate closure of over 500 gold mining sites in West Pokot County following the collapse of the Kambi Karaya site on Sunday, June 15, where one person was confirmed dead, with rescue efforts still underway to retrieve miners believed to be trapped underground.

Some of the mining sites to be closed include Kambi Karaya, Turkwel, Sekerr, Morita, and Romos, among others located within Pokot Central, Kipkomo, Kacheliba, and Kapenguria sub-counties.

Speaking during a press briefing on Monday, West Pokot County Commissioner Khalif Abdulahi said the decision was reached after consultations with security agencies and officials from the State Department of Mining.

He raised alarm over the surge in illegal mining activities in the county, adding that commercial mining operations in the region were being conducted without valid licenses from the relevant ministry.

The County Commissioner further confirmed that teams from the National Police Service, Kenya Defence Forces, and the Kenya Red Cross are leading rescue operations at the Kambi Karaya site.

The Kambi Karaya tragedy follows a similar incident just 10 days earlier in Karon village, Turkwel, where four miners died and five others were injured after a gold mine caved in during the early hours of June 7.

Abdulahi warned that continued mining has led to severe environmental degradation and pollution of key rivers, including River Turkwel, which he said is now unsuitable for domestic use.

To streamline regulation, he noted that a mining office has been established in the county to oversee artisanal mining activities and promote compliance and safety with minors and investors required to comply with the set regulations in three months.

The commissioner also linked illegal mining to rising cases of child labour, early marriages, and school dropouts in the region.