Early Saturday morning, a gold mine collapsed in Karon Village, West Pokot County, leaving five people feared dead and at least ten others trapped underground.
West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin Kitalei reported that the disaster struck around 2:00 a.m., sending shockwaves through the local community. He confirmed the fatalities and said rescue efforts to reach those still trapped are ongoing. In a statement on social media, he expressed his condolences and prayers for the victims and their families.
According to West Pokot Sub County Deputy County Commissioner Wycliffe Munanda, nine miners were inside the pit when it suddenly caved in, burying them under debris. Five injured miners were taken to Kapenguria County Referral Hospital, while the bodies of four deceased—three men and one woman—were moved to the hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination.
Munanda explained that the miners had returned to the site at night to work with manual tools such as picks and hoes, unaware that the ground had become unstable following excavations earlier in the day. “They did not know the ground was unstable. We have accounted for everyone trapped. No one is missing,” he said.
The collapse has renewed concerns about safety in West Pokot’s small-scale mining sector. West Pokot County Commissioner Abdullahi Khalif condemned some local leaders for allegedly inciting residents against police officers who responded to the emergency. He urged leaders to understand mining laws and to approach the issue carefully.
Khalif added that the national government is working to address challenges in the region’s mining industry. Officials from relevant ministries are expected to visit the county before the end of the month to tackle mining-related concerns.
Pokot South MP David Pkosing expressed sorrow over the tragedy but criticized some leaders for undermining safe mining operations. He accused them of driving away machinery that could have made mining safer, leaving families forced to work in dangerous conditions. “If the machines had been allowed to operate, those who died would still be alive today,” he said, condemning irresponsible political interference.
Authorities have vowed to improve safety standards and enforce legal mining practices in West Pokot to prevent further loss of life.
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