Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho and Kakamega governor Fernandes Barasa have held a consultative meeting over deadly clashes between police and gold-mining workers that left four people dead.
Six other people, including two police officers, were admitted to hospital with serious injuries following last Thursday’s violent protests in Ikolomani over plans to mine gold worth Sh680 billion in the area.
The major gold mining proposal in Kakamega South is facing resistance from local communities, who said that they are concerned about possible environmental, cultural, and social impacts if the project proceeds.
Shanta Gold Limited, a British-based mining firm, recently announced the discovery of what it describes as one of Kenya’s largest gold deposits in the area.
The meeting between Joho and Barasa was also attended by State Department for Mining Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai, Kakamega County leadership consisting of Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali, County Assembly Speaker James Namatsi, Idakho Central MCA Archeadious Liyai and the chairperson of the Kakamega Artisanal Mining Committee Patrick Ligami.
The meeting highlighted the need to ensure adequate consultation by all stakeholders and the constitutional and legal imperatives on inclusivity and public participation in the implementation of the project.
Parties agreed on the need for adoption of a structured approach to the proposed Shanta Gold Project “to ensure the project secures the interests of all stakeholders and entrenches a win-win outcome for all.”
Parties also agreed to adopt a unified communication strategy on the proposed project to relay factual and timely information about the venture to the public.
Shanta’s feasibility study indicates that about 337 acres of predominantly privately owned land would be required, potentially affecting approximately 800 households.
According to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report submitted to the National Environment Management Authority (Nema), the company’s Kenyan subsidiary has confirmed 1.27 million ounces of gold at the Isulu-Bushiangala underground mining site in Kakamega South Sub-county.
The study, prepared by Kurrent Technologies Limited together with South Africa’s Digby Wells Environmental, proposes a large-scale underground mine covering Musoli and Isulu locations, roughly 55 kilometres from Kisumu.
However, residents of Isulu, Bushiangala, and Musoli formally expressed opposition to the project. In a memorandum submitted to Nema, community members say they have concerns about how consultations were carried out, as well as potential effects on the environment and local livelihoods.
“We object to the approval of this project because it is a private commercial venture, not a public purpose project, and therefore cannot lawfully acquire ancestral land without consent,” the memo states.
The document also argues that the project could impact cultural heritage, household incomes, and community welfare if safeguards are not clearly outlined.
Residents say issues raised in an earlier petition submitted in July 2025 have not been fully addressed.
