Four people have been confirmed dead after a gold mine collapsed on Saturday morning at Karon village in West Pokot County.
West Pokot sub-county Deputy County Commissioner Wycliffe Munanda said the miners had entered the pit around 3:00 a.m. when the pit caved in, burying them under the debris.
At the same time, five others have sustained different injuries after the incident. The deceased are three males and one female.
Reports indicate that nine people were inside the pit when it collapsed.
The five who were injured have been taken to the Kapenguria County Referral Hospital for treatment.
The bodies of the deceased have been moved to the hospital’s mortuary for post-mortem.
Munanda said the miners went back to the site overnight without knowing that the soil had become loose.
He stated that all the miners who were buried in the hole have been found, and no one is missing.
“They used manual tools at night not knowing the ground was unstable. We have accounted for all the individuals who were trapped. No one is missing,” Munanda said.
Also Read: Kenya Exposed as Gold Smuggling Hotspot in New Report
Commissioners Message to Politicians
West Pokot County Commissioner Abdullahi Khalif accused some local leaders of inciting locals against police officers who had responded to the incident.
Khalif said issues related to mining should be handled with care and with an understanding of all regulations related to it.
“Some leaders are misguiding the public and inciting them against law enforcement. The issue of mining must be approached carefully, and leaders must understand the laws and regulations governing mining operations,” Khalif said.
Khalif said officials from the Ministry of Mining will visit the County to address mining related matters before the end of June.
Also Read: 2 Global Companies Partner in Bid for Kenyan Rare Minerals Worth Billions
West Pokot Statement
West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin sent his condolences to the families of the deceased.
Kachapin said the leaders and residents must work together to avoid such incidents.
“This is a painful moment for our county. I send my sincere sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” Kachapin said.
“We must work together to ensure such tragedies are prevented in future by enforcing safety regulations and protecting the lives of our people.”
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