A somber mood has engulfed a village in West Pokot County following a tragic incident at an artisanal goldmine in Kampi Karayi area. Four miners, including a 14-year-old, lost their lives after the mine collapsed early in the morning on Thursday, October 2, 2025. The miners, who were working at an abandoned site, were buried alive when the walls of the goldmine caved in at around 4:00 AM.
The victims, aged 14, 22, 30, and 35, were part of a group of artisanal miners who had been extracting gold from the mine. Despite being located in an area that had previously been abandoned, the site still attracted miners looking to extract precious minerals. The collapse of the mine came as a devastating blow to the miners and the local community, highlighting the risks faced by those working in informal mining operations.
Rescue operations were swiftly initiated by the local authorities, with efforts led by officers from the Marich police station and the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) from Lous. The bodies of the victims were successfully retrieved from the rubble, and the remains were transported to Kapenguria Level 5 Hospital for postmortem examinations.
This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with artisanal mining, where many miners work in poorly maintained and unstable conditions. While goldmining in the region has been a source of livelihood for many, the lack of proper safety measures and infrastructure has contributed to frequent accidents. The collapse at Kampi Karayi is not the first of its kind, and it raises significant concerns about the need for stronger regulations and better oversight of artisanal mining activities.
In the wake of the tragedy, there have been calls for greater awareness and enforcement of safety standards within the mining sector. Local leaders and residents have expressed their grief over the loss of life, and many are urging authorities to intervene before more lives are lost in such preventable accidents. The community is left to mourn the tragic deaths of the miners, who had been seeking a better life through their hard work but instead met with an untimely and unfortunate end.
As investigations continue into the cause of the mine’s collapse, the incident has sparked a broader conversation about the safety and regulation of artisanal mining in Kenya. It remains to be seen whether this tragedy will lead to meaningful changes to protect the lives of those working in the sector.
