Siaya leaders are calling on the national government to come up with basic safety guidelines to curb the rising number of deaths at artisanal mining sites.
Gem Member of Parliament Elisha Odhiambo and Siaya Governor James Orengo say there is an urgent need for a national discussion on how best to manage small-scale mines across the country.
They spoke separately in Gem constituency following the death of three miners at Rera village in Gem Wagai sub-county after a gold mine collapsed on them early Sunday morning.
At Sirandu village in North Gem ward, Odhiambo stated that the issue requires urgent attention from all stakeholders.
“Going forward, I will engage the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Ali Hassan Joho, to have a structured approach to how mining should be done,” Odhiambo said, emphasizing that the country cannot continue risking lives in mining activities.
Governor James Orengo, who spoke at the site of the collapsed mine, said both national and county governments, along with investors and miners, must collaborate to ensure safety in the mines.
“Mining is primarily a national government function, but we believe a discussion should occur on how the sector should be run,” Orengo said.
The governor noted that county governments were not receiving returns from the minerals mined in their regions, while the miners remained poor.
“If you look at the people here, their standard of living is not something you can be proud of,” he said.
Orengo announced that his government would assist with funeral costs as support to the bereaved families.
By Philip Onyango
