Death of 15 in West Pokot goldmine shines light on grim dangers artisanal miners face
West Pokot County Commissioner David Saruni who visited the scene alongside County Security officials, mining officers and local leaders on Friday, confirmed that 21 miners had been trapped underground during the collapse.
Arid and semi-arid region in north-western Kenya experiences torrential rains after 65 years
Dickson Rotich, a Sengwer elder who is also the community’s spokesman, recalled that such a phenomenon is only comparable to 1961 when rains were so heavy that they resulted in bumper harvests.
Despite high potential for gold mining Kenya still allocates the sector paltry budget
Despite promising gold deposit discoveries that include coltan – used in the manufacture of smartphones and electrical vehicle batteries – in Tana River, Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana and Embu – the mining sector is routinely allocated a pittance in the national government budget.
