By John Mutiso
Two Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) are among 63 people apprehended by police following deadly clashes over contested gold mining operations in Kakamega County that have now claimed four lives.Â
The death toll from Thursday’s violent confrontation in Isulu, Ikolomani, rose to four after a victim succumbed to gunshot injuries while undergoing treatment at Kakamega County General Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Three additional individuals with gunshot wounds remain hospitalized at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Referral Hospital in Kisumu, alongside two police officers who were seriously injured during the unrest and are reportedly in critical condition.
Among those detained are Idaho Central MCA Akidias Liyai and nominated MCA Anne Muluwale, who authorities allege funded the demonstrations.
Survivor Victor Alvin described his narrow escape from death after being shot during the protests. Another victim’s family recounted how their relative was struck by a bullet in the leg while standing near a shop in Isulu.
Outside Kakamega Central Police Station, distressed families gathered demanding the release of relatives arrested during late-night raids. The group accused law enforcement of harassment during door-to-door operations conducted throughout the affected area.
The violence erupted when police confronted demonstrators protesting proposed mining activities in the region. The confrontation left streets littered with burning debris as residents voiced their fierce opposition to the mining project.
The controversy centers on a British-based mining company’s announcement of discovering one of Kenya’s largest gold deposits, valued at approximately KSh683 billion. The firm’s feasibility assessment indicates that roughly 337 acres of mainly private land would be required for extraction, potentially forcing around 800 families from their homes.
An Environmental Impact Assessment submitted to the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) by the company’s Kenyan subsidiary confirmed 1.27 million ounces of gold at the Isulu-Bushiangala underground site in Kakamega South Sub-county.
Residents from Isulu, Bushiangala, and Musoli have formally registered their opposition through a memorandum to Nema, challenging the consultation process and highlighting concerns about environmental and livelihood impacts.
“We object to the approval of this project because it is a private commercial venture, not a public purpose project, and therefore cannot lawfully acquire ancestral land without consent,” the community memorandum states.
