Five people perished after a gold mine caved in on them in the Lolgorian area, within Transmara South, Narok County, Wednesday afternoon.
Confirming the incident, yesterday, Narok Police Commander Patrick Lobolia said it was believed some other miners were still trapped at the Kilima Pesa gold mine, following the incident.
Lobolia said rescuers were dispatched to the scene to assist in the rescue mission amid challenging conditions.
He regretted that the rescue mission was progressing slowly due to lack of specialized equipment needed to safely access the underground tunnels.
“Those on the ground have no specialized equipment to help in the rescue mission,” he said, adding that several survivors had, however, been rescued and rushed to nearby medical facilities for emergency treatment.
Mr. Lobolia said the bodies of the five victims were taken to Lolgorian Sub-county Hospital’s mortuary, pending postmortem, formal identification, and release to their families for burial.
Yesterday’s incident follows a similar one within the same area on February 12, where two miners aged 27 and 25 died after an underground tunnel at an abandoned mining site collapsed on them.
Following a series of mining accidents, the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs launched nationwide consultations on the draft Mine Health, Safety, and Environment Regulations to replace the repealed Mining Act (Cap. 306).
The proposed regulations seek to strengthen safety standards by requiring rigorous machinery inspections, adequate underground ventilation, and stricter health and safety measures.
The document also requires every mining operation to have a qualified mine manager with a degree in mining engineering, civil engineering, or geology besides making use of personal protective equipment mandatory for all workers.
Kenya has several gold deposits that have attracted dozens of miners who earn their livelihoods from the activity.
By Emily Kadzo and Evalyne Mutengei
