A mad rush for gold has hit the Sindo area in Homa Bay County after the residents claimed to have discovered the mineral.
The local residents claimed to have discovered the highly valued mineral in a hill in the Rang’wa East sub-location. The discovery has disrupted farming and fishing activities after the residents abandoned the two activities to engage in mining.
Rangwe West Sub-Location Assistant Chief Walter Odiyo visited the mines and urged caution, noting that the excavations will lead to environmental degradation.
He regretted that mining weakens the soils and may lead to landslides posing danger to the miners.
Mr Peter Ayoo, who owns part of the land where the quarry is located, said he sent rock samples for tests and discovered that they had gold.
“I decided to investigate the components of the rocks which I stumbled upon and got results that they contain gold,” Mr Ayoo said. News about the discovery spread like wildfire across the village, leading to the gold rush.
Prospectors and middlemen from major towns have also flocked to the area to get a piece of the pie from the valuable mineral. Some collect rocks from the miners to take for testing before later giving feedback.
The gold-containing rocks are packaged in 50-kilogram sacks, with Mr Samuel Odhiambo, a resident, saying they sell the rocks at negotiable prices ranging from Sh1000 to Sh5000 per sack. Dealers in the business say they, in addition, pay Sh450 to have a sack of the rocks crushed.
Kaksingri Council of Elders Secretary, Joab Ikawa, said mining will change the local economy and urged the government to streamline the operations.
“The construction of the Mbita-Sindo-Magunga-Sori road should be expedited to ease access to the mines,” Mr Ikawa said.
On his part, Mr Emmanuel Odhiambo, who owns a retail shop in Sindo Town, said he decided to open a branch near the quarry to make more profits.
“Foodstuffs are in high demand because the miners need them every day. I now run two parallel businesses with my wife helping me get supplies from Sindo town,” the trader said.
National Council of Churches of Kenya, Homa Bay County Chairperson Ken Ouma called for caution, noting that in the past, the area witnessed a landslide that killed four people.
He feared mining could lead to disasters if uncontrolled, stressing that “the government should regulate mining at the site to curb adverse effects.”
The cleric also claimed that some miners were encroaching into other people’s land, thus promoting conflict. He further said that hygiene should also be prioritised in the area.
A meeting has been scheduled for later this week to discuss how the mining business can be carried out in a sustainable manner.
By Davis Langat
