As northern Kenya inches ever closer to El Dorado status – a mythical city of gold South America – the governments of West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana and Samburu are in a rush to make mining attractive to potential investors in an economic sector that remains largely virgin in the east African nation.

In light of recent deaths by artisanal gold miners in Elgeyo Maraket, Turkana, Marsabit, Mandera and Samburu- all in northern Kenya – confidence has been growing in the mining industry that the once-neglected and marginalised arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya may as well be the mythical undersea El Dorado city that was awash with gold.

Given the surge in confidence, investors keen on mining in West Pokot County will now enjoy unhindered access to mining services following the inauguration of a county mining office in Kapenguria Town with mandate to enforce mining laws.

The office will process licenses and oversee compliance with the mining act, services that were hitherto provided only at the regional offices in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County – some 500 kilometres from the mining sites. The distance from the regional offices created administrative loopholes that were exploited by illegal miners, officials say.

Speaking during the inauguration of the office at the County Commissioner’s Office in Kapenguria town, Secretary in the State Department of Mining David Onyancha said the decision to operationalise the office in Kapenguria is intended to move the services closer to local people, especially artisanal miners that make a killing from unregulated mining.

In the recent past, counties in northern Kenya have become destination for fortune hunters, especially gold and rare earth minerals prospectors. Accordingly, Onyancha said the office will assist both the national and the county governments to collect revenue to improve public services.

“We have had discussions with county security teams and other stakeholders and the mission of our tour of the mining sites is to regularise the harnessing of the mining resources for the benefit of both the residents and the government in general,” the mining secretary explained.

Further, he said, the mining law provides that 20 per cent of the total revenue collected from the mining goes to the host county government, as 10 per cent is passed onto the local community for equitable development.

Onyancha cited the need for proper licensing and compliance since the government is keen on helping all miners – among them artisanal ones – who are mostly perceived as illegal miners. He said thee artisanal miners play a key role in improving the country’s economy.

He took the moment to condole with those who lost their loved ones in last weekend’s gold mining tragedy in which four people lost lives and several others sustained serious injuries.

“Through proper licensing and compliance, the government will ensure risks are curbed during the mining processes and there is sustainability during excavation of the mineral resources within this region that enjoys several mineral deposits such as cold and limestone,” Onyancha said.

He lauded the county security team led by the area County Commissioner Abdsullahi Khallif for its quick response to tragedies in mines.

He appealed for intense collaboration between county and the national government officers on mining in the region to ensure the security and safety of miners.

“Our county office will be working hand in hand with the county and NGAO officials so that cases of mining accidents do not recur so often and result in fatalities in the mining sits. It was reported that a total of seven people lost their lives in mining accidents in the past three months,” Onyancha pointed out.

The mining official also appealed to local leaders and community to support the government in ensuring there is smooth appropriation of mineral resourcesl.

Officials from the state department of mining, mining police unit, mining investigating unit, licensing and compliance unit held sensitisation drives to the mining sites in Turkwel, Kambi Karaya, Lami Nyeusi among other areas.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Richard Muhambe

Gold mining accident survivor David Longerei shares experience with the Secretary State department for Mining David Onyancha during the mining team’s visit to the West Pokot County headquarters in Kapenguria on Tuesday June 10, 2025. Credit: Richard Muhambe

The Secretary State Department for Mining David Onyancha during a press briefing at the West Pokot County headquarters in Kapenguria on Tuesday June 10, 2025. Credit: Richard Muhambe