Four people, among them a 14-year-old boy, have died after a section of the Kambi Karaya gold mines in Pokot Central collapsed on Thursday afternoon. The tragedy struck as dozens of artisanal miners were working underground, leaving an unknown number still trapped beneath the rubble. Emergency teams, supported by residents, launched a frantic search-and-rescue mission as fears grew that more miners remained buried inside the unstable tunnels. The latest incident marks yet another fatal episode in an area where illegal mining has continued despite increased risks and repeated government warnings.
Thursday’s collapse is the second major tragedy reported this year at the same mining site. In June, one miner was confirmed dead and several others feared buried when another tunnel caved in at Kambi Karaya. That earlier incident occurred just days after four people were killed when a mine collapsed in Turkwel, also in West Pokot County. Authorities said the Turkwel tragedy happened around 3:00am after miners returned at night to resume digging using basic tools, unaware that the soil had loosened after heavy excavation by machinery earlier in the day. County Commissioner Khalif Abdullahi at the time attributed the fatalities to unchecked, unregulated mining practices that continue to put local residents in danger.
The latest collapse has reignited concerns over the rapid spread of illegal commercial mining across West Pokot, where residents often work in hazardous pits without safety equipment, oversight, or structural support. Commissioner Abdullahi has repeatedly criticised local political leaders for allegedly inciting communities against police officers conducting rescue and enforcement operations. He has also warned that the government will intensify crackdowns on unlicensed mining operations, saying the county cannot continue losing lives to avoidable tragedies. As rescue efforts continue in Kambi Karaya, authorities are expected to review safety guidelines and step up monitoring of mining hotspots to prevent further disaster. Families and community members waiting anxiously at the site have urged the government to provide safer alternatives for artisanal miners whose livelihoods depend on the trade.