At least four people were killed and five others injured after a gold mine collapsed in the early hours of Saturday morning at Karon village in Turkwel, West Pokot County. The tragic incident occurred around 3 am when the miners, using manual tools, entered the pit unaware that the soil had become unstable due to earlier excavation activities involving heavy machinery.
According to West Pokot Subcounty Deputy County Commissioner Wycliffe Munanda, all nine individuals trapped in the mine have been accounted for. “The five who were injured were quickly rescued and taken to Kapenguria County Referral Hospital for treatment,” he said. The bodies of the four deceased, including three men and one woman, were moved to the hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations.
Munanda explained that the miners returned to the site at night, unaware that the ground had weakened significantly after machines had dug the pit during the day. The use of picks and hoes to continue mining manually at night proved fatal when the pit caved in, burying them under debris.
West Pokot County Commissioner Abdullahi Khalif condemned what he termed as political incitement against law enforcement officers who responded to the emergency. “Mining must be handled with care, and leaders must respect the legal framework that governs the industry,” he stressed. Khalif assured residents that the national government is working to resolve the mining-related challenges in the region.
West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin extended condolences to the affected families, calling for urgent measures to enforce safety regulations in mining zones. “We must work together to protect lives and prevent future tragedies,” he urged.
Pokot South MP David Pkosing also mourned the victims and criticized fellow politicians whom he accused of interfering with lawful mining operations. “Had the machines been allowed to operate safely, these lives could have been saved,” he said.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to enforcing compliance and safety standards in gold mining, which remains widespread despite repeated warnings about the dangers involved.
