A team of top detectives from Nairobi is camping in Nandi to investigate a blast that killed three miners at a gold mining site.
The officers led by the director of the investigation unit at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters Eliud Lagat have been camping at Karebe Gold Mining Limited’s mining complex near Kibigori, Nandi County to investigate how the blast occurred also leaving six other people with injuries.
This comes amid claims of interference and non-action by local police in the incident.
This prompted the move by the British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriott to visit the area as part of the push for action.
The owners of the mining site had complained a section of local officials are reluctant to take action on the illegal miners who caused the January 23 blast in a tunnel as they dug through to reach a gold site.
The investors wrote to the British embassy in Nairobi and top officials in Nairobi prompting the dispatching of the Lagat team and visitation by Marriott.
Marriott said she is rooting for dialogue between investors and the Nandi County government to resolve the long-standing dispute over the multinational tea farms and the Kerebe gold mines.
Speaking after meeting Nandi Governor Stephen Sang in Kapsabet, Marriott called for action on security concerns there.
She also vouched for stronger relations between Kenya and Britain in various sectors including agriculture, health, and tourism that continue to benefit the citizens of both countries.
Sang welcomed the willingness of the British government to resolve the disputes to create a win-win situation between the two parties.
On their part, the team of detectives has been talking to the owners of the farm and workers as part of the probe.
It is not clear why the local officials have not taken action even after the management complained of interference from above.
Lagat said their probe is progressing well and they will file a report with various recommendations.
“We will talk to all concerned parties before we file our report. Assure all there will be justice,” he said.
The investors at the site have complained about the action by the mining Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya to close the site without getting real facts on the root cause of the incident.
Karebe Gold Mining Limited protested non-action from the government over illegal mining activities in the field.
The firm explained the three miners were killed instantly when a wall that was built to prevent the mine from flooding and illegal incursion was blasted illegally by illegal miners.
“Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased, who were hard-working, loyal employees of our company.”
It added their sorrow is compounded by a deep frustration that their calls to address the danger posed by illegal miners operating in their license area have not been answered by the relevant authorities, despite court orders prohibiting mining activities within the disputed area.
“Since January 2021, we have been urging the Kenyan Government to address the illegal mining incursion on our licence area.”
“Karebe has sent numerous letters to the relevant senior government officials and law enforcement authorities, warning them of the threat to the safety and wellbeing of our staff and company, posed by illegal mining activity,” said the statement.
The firm also expressed their fears in face-to-face meetings with the County Security Committee on Thursday, January 19 at which Karebe raised grave concerns about ongoing illegal mining activities, especially the potential dangers caused by illegal blasting.
“We are struggling to control clashes that have broken out between members of our local community and individuals engaged in illegal mining.”
“We call on the authorities to bring the persons responsible for this brutal crime - including those who have ignored our warnings for so long - to justice. This is the saddest day in our company’s history and we pray to God for strength at this time, especially for the grieving families,” the firm added.
This was in reaction to an incident in which three miners were killed at Karebe Gold Mines on January 23 afternoon.
Police were told there was a loud blast from the gold mine site with the miners still inside the tunnel.
There are gold fields in the area and many villagers flock there to eke a living.
Many of them are classified as illegal and locals claimed the incident was the first one to happen there.
According to police, the miners used explosives to demolish a huge rock therein leading to deaths and injuries.
There were two groups in different tunnels but targeting the same rock for the deposits and both were using explosives for excavation, survivors told police.
The miners use explosive devises to demolish rocks for the gold.
