- Administrator orders residents to stop any further mining in the area until they receive approval from the appropriate government authorities.
- He said the closure of the mines was intended to prevent incidents leading to death and injuries in mines.
Image: KNA
Administrators in Pokot South have closed gold mining sites in the area amid concerns over the safety of artisanal miners.
Pokot South deputy county commissioner David Boen closed all illegal gold mining operations in Marang’ar area located within the government forest between Tangasia and Tapach Location.
Boen expressed concern over the miners’ disregard for the environment and potential harm caused to both humans and animals during a visit to the site.
The administrator ordered residents to stop any further mining in the area until they receive approval from the appropriate government authorities.
He said the closure of the mines was intended to prevent incidents leading to death and injuries in mines.
“During our inspection of the mining sites, we noticed that miners were digging deep holes in order to extract gold, disregarding the adverse environmental consequences of their artisanal activities,” Boen said.
“Unfortunately, we experienced a tragic loss of life last year when an individual was buried under soil as a result of illegal gold mining. After we visited the region, it became evident that this activity poses a significant danger to human life and there is a need to stop further illegal mining activity in the area to avert further loss of lives.”
The administrator decried a rise in child labour and early marriages linked to artisanal mining in the area.
Additionally, he said that the influx of miners in the area has severely compromised sanitation and hygiene, as miners openly defecate, posing a potential threat of a cholera outbreak.
He encouraged the residents to adopt pyrethrum and potato farming as viable income options.
He said Tapach area in West Pokot County is famed for pyrethrum with the highest chemical content and urged the residents to take up the cash crop.
“The Tapach region has a rich volcanic soil that possesses immense potential for cultivating pyrethrum with the highest pyrethrin content in the world. Secondly, the region is suitable for cultivation of potato,” Boen said.
Pokot South Sub County police chief Said Shungi said his officers would not tolerate any illegal mining activities that could harm the region's water source.
“Such activities which lack government approval will not be allowed,” Shungi said.
Kenya Forest Service Lenan Division manager Gordon Anyiko hailed the government’s decisive actions to close the mines and save the environment.
Anyiko said that the local community had consented to the refilling of all quarries to prevent any incidents of injuries and loss of lives.
He cautioned about the detrimental effects of forest destruction and urged residents to actively monitor and report any illegal activities such as mining, charcoal burning, overgrazing, and other unauthorised actions taking place inside the forest.
Tangasia Chief Samuel Katumon told residents to support the closure of the mines, which he said was for the well-being of both animals and humans, as well as to preserve the environment and promote good health.
The chairman of a peace initiative in Pokot South Sub County, Clement Kilipa, encouraged residents to avoid activities that were likely to bring more harm than good.
He encouraged residents to explore alternative sources of income such as selling of milk, potatoes, and pyrethrum farming.
A survivor of a gold mining incident, Emmanuel Ting'anur, recounted his harrowing experience to residents.
“To those involved in illegal mining activities, I want to encourage you to stop it and wait for experts’ approval on where to engage your activities. Failure to do so could result in losses and further harm than good,” Ting'anur warned.
Image: KNA