A 26-year-old man was killed after a stone fell on him during sand harvesting at Karateng village in Kabondo Kasipul constituency.
John Nyandiko died instantly after the incident on Wednesday evening.
It was reported that Nyandiko went to harvest sand in the company of his colleagues.
Nyandiko was harvesting sand in a cave of more than six feet when a big stone rolled and hit him.
It is suspected that the stone rolled into the cave after the soil became weak due to heavy rains pounding the area.
“The stone which fell into the cave has caused serious loss. It is very sad that we have lost the young man who has been working hard to earn a living,” a resident said.
Ramba location Chief Joseph Ndege said they liaised with police from Othoro police station and took the body to Okita Nursing Home mortuary at Kadongo trading centre.
On Thursday, Ndege urged residents to avoid harvesting sand in deep holes during the heavy rains to avoid cases of landslides.
“Heavy rains normally make soil weak and collapse easily. Let miners avoid digging deep caves when harvesting sand,” Ndege said.
There has been an outcry over sand harvesting in some parts of Homa Bay.
In the neighbouring Karachuonyo constituency, sand harvesting has caused serious environmental degradation.
Homa Bay NEMA director Josiah Nyandoro said they have begun controlling sand harvesting activities in the county to protect the environment and benefit residents.
He said the agency is alert and will undertake a crackdown on the outlawed sites.
“Crackdown on illegal sand harvesting will ensure sanity in the mining,” Nyandoro said.
According to NEMA laws, mining sites should be subjected to an environmental impact assessment before anyone begins mining activities.
Nyandoro said they are going to conduct an assessment and close the site.
“All sand harvesting sites should be subjected to assessment before people are allowed to operate in them,” he said.