West Pokot gold rush halted after fatal accidents
West Pokot county commissioner Khaliff Abdulahi (centre) with other government officers at Kampi Karaya gold mines in West Pokot County where a woman died after the gold mines collapsed enforcing an order to close mining sites in the county on June 16, 2025.
What you need to know:
- The government has ordered the immediate closure of all illegal gold mines in West Pokot County.
- This follows a recent surge in mining-related fatalities, including eight deaths in the last three months and an incident in which a woman was buried alive.
- West Pokot County Commissioner Khalif Abdullahi announced the closure of over 500 illegal sites, banning mining with heavy machinery while allowing artisanal mining with hand tools to continue, provided licences are obtained within three months.
The government has ordered the immediate closure of all illegal gold mines in West Pokot County following a spike in fatalities and mining-related tragedies in recent months.
County Commissioner Khalif Abdullahi issued the directive on Monday and deployed the county security team to enforce compliance.
Mr Abdullahi said that all miners must now obtain operating licenses from the relevant mining authorities.
According to the administrator, eight people have lost their lives in gold mining accidents over the past three months. The most recent incident occurred on Sunday evening when a woman was buried alive while mining at Kampi Karaywa in Central Pokot sub-county.
Two excavators were also buried in the same site.
Last week, four people were killed and five others seriously injured in a similar tragedy in Karon village in Turkwel.
Mr Khalif said there are over 500 illegal mining sites in the county, all of which have now been shut down.
These include the busy mining hubs of Kampi Karaywa, Lami Nyeusi, Orwa, Sekerr, Ortum, Alale, Turkwel, Eut, Kopulio, Morita, Rumos (also known as County 48), Kacheliba Kiwawa, Kasei and areas along the Turkwel River.
Residents at Kampi Karaya gold mines in West Pokot County where a woman died after the gold mines collapsed on June 16, 2025.
He, however, clarified that artisanal mining, where locals use hand tools such as spades, basins and hoes, may continue, provided miners obtain licenses within three months.
“We have stopped mining using heavy machines,” Mr Khalif said during a press briefing at his Kapenguria office on Monday.
In addition to the rising death toll, environmental degradation and pollution caused by unchecked mining activities were cited as a growing concern. He pointed to significant ecological damage along the Turkwel and Muruny rivers, among others.
“The decision to close all mining sites is a government directive following a multi-agency consultation. In partnership with the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema), we have determined that the environment has been severely degraded,” he said.
He was accompanied by county government officials, officers from the mining department and all five sub-county deputy commissioners. He announced the opening of a new mining office in Kapenguria Town and the deployment of a special mining police unit to tackle illegal operations and ensure regulatory compliance.
The new office established by the State Department for Mining will oversee license issuance, enforcement and monitoring of mining operations in the county.
Rescue and recovery efforts are still underway at the Kampi Karaywa site following Sunday’s incident, with fears that more individuals may be trapped under the collapsed mine.