A mad gold rush has hit Sindo town in shores of Lake Victoria, Homa Bay County, after residents received news of one of them having discovered a treasure on his farm.

The man is said to have taken rocks from a quarry on his farm for laboratory tests for gold and the results returned positive. In the wake of the discovery, the sleepy town – locally referred to as the Sodom and Gomorrah of Homa Bay Town – went wild and unleashed a mad rush to the quarries in hunt for the precious mineral.

Sindo residents claimed to have discovered the highly valued mineral in a hill in Rang’wa East sub-location. The discovery has disrupted farming and fishing activities after the residents abandoned the two economic activities to engage in mining.

Rang’wa West Sub-Location Assistant Chief Walter Odiyo visited the mines and urged for caution, noting that the excavations will lead to environmental degradation. He pointed that wanton mining polluted the soils and may lead to landslides posing danger to the miners.

Mr Peter Ayoo who owns part of the land where the quarry is located, said he sent rock samples for tests and discovered that they had gold.

“I decided to investigate the components of the rocks, which I stumbled upon and got results that they contain gold,” Ayoo said. News about the discovery spread like wildfire across the village leading to a gold rush that has disrupted daily economic activities – fishing and farming.

Prospectors and middle men from major towns have also flocked the area to get a piece of the pie from the valuable mineral. Some collect rocks from the miners to take for testing before later giving feedback.

The gold containing rocks are packaged in 50-kilogramme sacks with Samuel Odhiambo, a resident, saying they sell the rocks at negotiable prices ranging from Ksh1000 to Ksh5000 per sack. Dealers in the business say they in addition pay Ksh450 to have a sack of the rocks crushed.

Kaksingri Council of Elders Secretary Joab Ikawa said mining will change the local economy and called on the government to streamline the operations.

“The construction of Mbita-Sindo-Magunga-Sori road should be expedited to ease access to the mines,” Mr Ikawa said.

On his part, Mr Emmanuel Odhiambo who owns a retail shop in Sindo Town said he decided to open a branch near the quarry to make more profits.

“Foodstuffs are in high demand because the miners need them every day. I now run two parallel businesses with my wife helping me get supplies from Sindo town,” the trader said.

National Council of Churches of Kenya, Homa Bay County Chair Ken Ouma called for caution noting that in the past, the area witnessed a landslide that killed four people. He feared mining could lead to disasters if uncontrolled stressing: “The government should regulate mining at the site to curb adverse effects.”

The cleric also claimed that some miners were encroaching into other people’s land thus promoting conflict. He further said that hygiene should also be prioritized in the area. A meeting has been scheduled for later this week to discuss how the mining business can be carried out in a sustainable manner.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Davis Langat

A resident of Sindo displays rock containing gold deposits. Photo by Davis Langat.