A multi-agency security team has conducted a week-long crackdown on illegal gold mining operations in West Pokot County.
The exercise culminated with the closure and ban of all unlicensed large-scale machine-based mining activities in the region.
The operation, spearheaded by the State Department for Mining, the Mining Police Unit, Mining, DCI Unit, and County Security Committee, targeted unregulated gold mining sites blamed for environmental destruction, revenue loss and serious safety hazards.
Authorities said only regulated large scale miners with valid licenses, and other permitted large scale, small-scale and artisanal miners, will be allowed to continue operations in accordance with the Mining Act 2016.
Speaking after the operation, Mining Police Unit Commanding Officer Dennis Oduor said the crackdown was intended to ensure that all those engaged in gold mining complied with the mining Act, protect the environment from further degradation, curb the influx of illegal miners operating without government approval, and enable the government to receive its rightful revenue from gold production.
He emphasized that mining must strictly adhere to the laid down rules and regulations to protect the environmental and water regulation enforced by national Environmental Management Authority (NEMA).
“For anyone to conduct mining legally, they must adhere to all stipulated laws and regulations, including obtaining the necessary permits and licenses,” he said.
During the operation, one individual was arrested after it was alleged he was planning to conduct an illegal mining. The accused was found having established a gold mining site and processing plant without relevant license or permit from the state department for mining.
West Pokot County Mining Officer, Morris Njagi confirmed that compliance inspections were conducted across several mining sites.
He issued a notice requiring all illegal operators to immediately cease activities or face prosecution under the Mining Act and other applicable laws.
Njagi explained that artisanal mining is regulated through county artisanal committees, which are mandated to regularize and issue permits to artisanal miners.
“The Mining Act prohibits any person from prospecting or mining minerals in Kenya without a valid permit or license,” Njagi stated.
Residents in affected areas have welcomed the government’s intervention, saying illegal mining has caused severe environmental damage.
Philip Ngorikwang, a resident of the Marich area in Pokot Central Sub-County, said unregulated gold mining left deep open pits and heavily polluted River Muruny making the water unsafe for household use.
He warned that the environment destruction including land degradation, deforestation, soil erosion, and loss of biodiversity could cost the Government of Kenya trillions of shillings to rehabilitate.
Ngorikwang thanked cabinet Secretary for Mining Hassan Joho for dispatching the multi-agency team to address the crisis.
Jonathan Pkemei, an artisanal miner at the Turkwel mining site, noted that regulated gold mining has helped promote peaceful coexistence between the Pokot and Turkana communities, reducing cases of cattle rustling.
However, he acknowledged that illegal mining has led to fatal mine collapse and serious injuries in the region.
Pkemei thanked the authorities for cracking down on those engaging in illegal mining, noting that it will help bring sanity to gold mining sites.
Authorities have vowed to intensify operations against illegal mining in west Pokot, maintaining that anyone found violating mining laws will face legal consequences.
The crackdown, officials says, is aimed at restoring environmental integrity, enhancing safety standards, and ensuring that mining activities benefits local communities while complying fully with the laws of Kenya.
By Anthony Melly
