The Western Regional Deputy Director for Mining, Jacob Mutua, says 83 per cent of the accidents that occur in the Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) sector are attributable to the collapse of the shafts.
These occurrences, he says, happen due to poor workmanship during their construction.
Mutua said 10 per cent of the deaths are caused by suffocation, while the remaining seven per cent of the casualties drown in the course of duty.
The officer, who was speaking during a public participation forum on the guidelines for streamlining the sector at a Vihiga hotel, advised the mine occupiers to construct the tunnels to the required standards.
The ASM activities take place in Muhudu, Hamisi Sub County, and Viyalo Area in Sabatia Sub County.
The ministry of mining, blue economy, and maritime affairs is in the process of coming up with a framework for formalizing the operations of the artisanal miners in the country.
By Sammy Mwibanda
