A tragic incident occurred on September 24, 2026, at approximately 1:40 pm, when soil collapsed on three artisanal miners working alongside a dried-up stream at Naser Stream, near the border of Transmara West/South and Kuria East. The miners were searching for gold deposits. Members of the public responded and attempted to rescue the victims. One of the victims, Irakuzi Imenshi, a female adult from Burundi, died at the scene.
Two other miners, including Marwa Sereka, a Kenyan male from Kuria, and a male adult from Burundi, were rushed to Kehancha Sub-County Hospital for emergency treatment. Unfortunately, Marwa Sereka later died while receiving treatment. The third victim, who survived the incident, was receiving medical attention. Police officers visited the scene after the incident was reported to Gem Police Post and cleared the site after the rescue operation.
In a separate incident, a 20-year-old man, Paul Opiyo, died after an artisanal mining tunnel collapsed on him in Kanyuto Village, East Gem Location, Siaya County. The incident occurred on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at around 5 pm. According to police, the walls of the tunnel suddenly collapsed, trapping Opiyo inside. Members of the public managed to retrieve his body from the collapsed tunnel before police officers from Yala Police Station arrived at the scene.
Police processed the scene and established that Opiyo's body had no visible external injuries. The body was later moved to the Yala Level IV Hospital mortuary, where it is being preserved pending a postmortem examination. Police have commenced investigations into the incident. The recent incidents highlight the risks faced by artisanal miners in Kenya.
Artisanal mining is a significant economic activity in many parts of Kenya, but it often lacks regulation and safety measures, leading to such incidents. Authorities have been urged to increase oversight and enforcement of safety regulations to prevent such tragedies. The government has also been called upon to provide support to the families of the victims.
The incidents have raised concerns about the safety of artisanal miners, who often work in hazardous conditions without proper equipment or protection. The government and other stakeholders have been urged to work together to address the issue. The police investigations are ongoing, and it is expected that more details will be revealed as the investigations continue.
The county governments of Narok and Siaya have expressed their condolences to the families of the victims and promised to work with the national government to improve safety measures for artisanal miners. The incidents serve as a reminder of the need for urgent action to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
Key points
- Two artisanal miners died in a soil collapse incident at Naser Stream near the Narok-Kuria border.
- A separate incident occurred in Siaya County, where a 20-year-old man died after an artisanal mining tunnel collapsed on him.
- The incidents highlight the need for improved safety measures and regulation of artisanal mining in Kenya.
