At least four people were killed and dozens injured when a public participation forum on gold mining in Kakamega County turned violent on Thursday, prompting western Kenya leaders to demand an immediate halt to Shanta Gold operations.
Deadly clashes at Ikolomani forum
Chaos erupted at Emusali Primary School in Ikolomani during a National Environment Management Authority meeting meant to discuss the British firm’s mining licence application. Residents stormed the venue, claiming their concerns were being ignored.
Police responded with live ammunition, killing four civilians, among them 34-year-old construction worker Conrad Ashioya. Over 30 people were injured, many by gunshot, while 63 others were arrested.
Leaders accuse state of backing foreign land grab
Speaking in Nairobi on Saturday, Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale said they represented leaders from five western counties. They accused the government of enabling a foreign-driven land grab disguised as development.
The two rejected plans to relocate 800 households for KSh3 billion in compensation when gold reserves in the area are valued at more than KSh680 billion.
“Why displace 800 families for KSh3 billion while the gold beneath them is worth over KSh680 billion?” Natembeya asked.
Khalwale dismissed the ongoing public participation process as flawed, declaring: “Ikolomani gold belongs to Ikolomani people. Kakamega gold belt belongs to the people of Kakamega.”
Demands for justice and local ownership
The leaders demanded the immediate release of all those arrested, the return of confiscated motorbikes used for transport and livelihoods, and full government funding for funerals and family support. They also called for reconstruction of damaged homes and public institutions.
“The people of Ikolomani cannot be punished for defending their land and future,” Natembeya said.
On Friday, distraught relatives gathered outside Kakamega Police Station clutching birth certificates, pleading for the release of detained family members, including children and the elderly. Many alleged police conducted indiscriminate night raids.
Western Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamoud blamed political incitement, claiming armed youths attempted to seize firearms from a police post. He said two members of the county assembly had been arrested for allegedly funding the violence – a claim local leaders rejected as a diversion from state brutality.
Background to the conflict
Shanta Gold announced in November the discovery of 1.27 million ounces of gold in the Lirhanda Corridor, the largest find in Kenya in decades. The eight-year project has faced fierce resistance from artisanal miners who accuse the company of extracting resources under the cover of exploration.
Alternative vision for western gold
Natembeya and Khalwale proposed full local ownership: counties holding majority stakes, every resident becoming a shareholder, and the creation of a “Gold City” for mining, refining and jewellery production without displacing a single family.
“We will not allow our communities, institutions, economy or future to be sacrificed for foreign profit,” Natembeya said.
Tensions remain high after the government withdrew security details from both leaders. Artisanal miners say they will continue opposing the project, fearing the loss of their only reliable income in a region plagued by unemployment.
