The government has ordered the immediate closure of all gold mining sites within West Pokot County, citing a spate of deadly incidents and severe environmental degradation.
West Pokot County Commissioner (CC) Abdullahi Khalif stated that the decision arises from the rising cases of fatalities and wanton environmental degradation linked to unregulated mining.
He was addressing the press in Kapenguria flanked by a multi-agency team drawn from the region before heading to oversee the adherence to directive. "Mining activities, especially those being carried out illegally, have so far claimed 7 lives in the last three months with another recent death being over the weekend where a woman lost her life and two excavators buried in quarry debris during the mining operation," said Khalif.
He stressed that the ongoing unregulated mining activities have not only endangered human lives but also polluted local water bodies, affecting both people and livestock.
