Four guards have been injured and machines set ablaze as gang raids gold processing site in Ikolomani, Kakamega County.
It is reported that the gang was armed with weapons and attacked the mine which is located in Shanta Village on the night of Tuesday, October 1, 2024.
Speaking to the media, one of the miners said the incident happened at around 9p.m when they had just reported to the working site.
“It was around 7p.m when I had just reported to work. I rode on my motorbike, and I parked it at the machine,” he said.
The miner explained that the gang which consisted of youth attacked the mine around two hours later, beat up the miners and security guards before setting the machines on fire.
“While we were working, some youth came and attacked us at around 9p.m. They have destroyed properties and even burnt down my motorbike that was inside. The gang even injured some of the soldiers who were here,” the miner said.
Why Gang Attacked Ikolomani Mining Site
He mentioned that there are two groups with opposing opinions regarding the mining activities taking place at the site.
The miner decried that the attack has now left some of them who depended on the mine for survival jobless.
“The issue is that there is a group opposed to the gold mining going one here while the others embrace it. Some of us had jobs here but right now that’s not the case,” he said.
Another miner stated that he received a phone call about the incident moments after he heard noises from the site.
“We working as usual when he heard some noises from here. Afterwards we received a phone call that the workers and the soldiers had been attacked and properties destroyed at the site,” he said.
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Hilo Mine Attacks
At least two people including a police officer were killed in a similar incident on July 19, 2024.
Several people including police officers and the invaders in a clash over a gold mining site in Hilo, Moyale, Marsabit County.
The deceased were identified as constable George Mukoma of Border Patrol Unit while the civilian was Hassan Harrow Odono.
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This came after three people were killed and eight others injured in a fight between groups over the same mining site in May.
Desperate illegal miners continue to flock the Hilo gold mining site despite its official closure of for safety reasons.
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