Governor Barasa asks miners to stop works due to heavy rains

Governor Fernandes Barasa has urged artisanal miners, borehole and toilet diggers across the county to temporarily suspend their operations until the ongoing heavy rains subside to avoid cases of accidents and deaths.

The governor's appeal comes barely two days after two young men were buried alive while three others were rescued after the county toilet they were digging collapsed on them at Bushiri market, Navakholo constituency.

Speaking during a burial service in Mumias East Constituency, the county boss described the activities as dangerous during the rainy season.

"We have experienced various cases of accidents resulting from gold mining activities and the digging of boreholes amid rains. I want to appeal to my people to temporarily suspend the activities because the soils are now soft and prone to caving due to rains," said Barasa.

Barasa, while acknowledging the tragic incident where two people were killed by a collapsed toilet, said the deaths reported can be avoided if the residents can halt their activities and resume after the long rains.

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"It is not safe to mine gold and dig pit latrines and boreholes at this time because the ground is not stable and fit for the activities. It is my appeal to our people that let us resume our activities after the long rains," said Barasa.

The pit latrine that collapsed and killed two at Bushiri market was being constructed by Barasa's administration.

The locals blamed the county government for negligence, arguing that the county officials ought to conduct and have a thorough feasibility assessment of the place before allowing the construction of the pit latrine.

The incident is not isolated. Two months ago, two miners were killed while 18 others were rescued at the Tumaini gold mine in Museno Village, Shinyalu Constituency, after the walls of the mine collapsed.