At least 12 miners have now been rescued after a gold mine collapsed in Khayega, Shinyalu Sub-County, Kakamega, on Monday evening. The incident occurred around 6:00 p.m. when the walls of the mineshaft gave way, trapping 20 miners who were inside.
A multi-agency rescue operation involving the Kenya Red Cross, local police, disaster response teams, and community volunteers managed to extricate 8 miners from the site shortly after the collapse. According to police, those rescued did not suffer any injuries.
Shinyalu Sub-County Police Commander Daniel Makumbu confirmed that the search and rescue operation is ongoing and will continue until all the trapped miners are accounted for. Despite the risks posed by the unstable site, rescue teams remain hopeful that more miners could still be found alive.
“We are committed to continuing the search until every miner is rescued,” Makumbu said. “However, we urge residents to stay clear of the collapsed shaft as it remains a high-risk area. We cannot afford any further casualties.”
The collapse at the gold mine is the latest in a series of incidents involving illegal or informal mining in the region. Kakamega County, which sits atop rich gold deposits, has been the site of several mining accidents over the years. In January 2024, three miners lost their lives in a similar collapse in Ikolomani.
Despite these incidents, gold mining remains a major activity in Kakamega and surrounding counties. In 2022, the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) raised concerns over the lack of adherence to safety and environmental regulations by artisanal miners. An estimated 8,000 miners in Kakamega are believed to be working illegally, contributing to both environmental degradation and a high risk of accidents.
The government has previously warned of the dangers posed by unregulated mining, which continues to claim lives while also damaging the environment. Local authorities have pledged to continue working with communities to improve mining safety and to curb illegal mining activities.
– Additional reporting by Victor Adar
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