CS Murkomen says government will enforce safety measures in gold mining areas after 15 death in West Pokot

CS for Interior Kipchumba Murkomen speaking in West Pokot on May 11th 2026

The government will roll out measures to improve safety in mining activities following the collapse of a gold mine in West Pokot, Interior Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen has said.

Murkomen said the government will also help communities involved in artisanal mining organise themselves into groups and SACCOs to help them maximise benefits from the sector.

 “We know the mining activities are part of your efforts to earn income for your families, and what we should ensure is safety and maximum benefit for all those involved,” Murkomen said.

 The CS spoke at Morita near Rumos in West Pokot county, where he visited and condoled with families who lost loved ones following the collapse of a gold mine in the area.

 He also assessed the security situation and service delivery in the region.

 Fifteen people, including 12 women, died in the collapse in Kacheliba constituency. Murkomen noted that women are increasingly taking up the role of breadwinners, which explained why many of the victims were female.

 He pledged the government’s support to families affected by the tragedy, saying humanitarian assistance, including food supplies, medical aid and other essential items, had already been dispatched.

 “We have sent enough food and other assorted items to support everyone affected by this tragedy,” he said.

 Murkomen added that the government will settle medical bills for those injured, cater for burial and funeral expenses and support affected households to rebuild their livelihoods.

 He said similar assistance would also be extended to families affected by the recent gold mine collapse in Ogago Village in North Sakwa, Siaya county.

 The CS urged artisanal miners across the country to adhere to safety regulations to avoid similar tragedies.

 “We will continue to stand with all the affected families, including those admitted to hospitals, whose medical bills will be fully covered by the government,” he said.

 Murkomen was accompanied by Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli and West Pokot County Commissioner David Saruni.

 Leaders present included West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin, Kacheliba MP Titus Lotee and West Pokot Woman Representative Rael Kasiwai.

 Following the May 8, 2026 collapse at Rumos Hills, Governor Kachapin said he had warned about the dangers posed by unsafe and illegal mining operations in the county just days before the tragedy.

 Kachapin accused powerful individuals and investors linked to government officials of exploiting mineral resources while degrading the environment.

 He said artisanal miners had increasingly been pushed out by operators holding licences issued in Nairobi.

 INSTANT ANALYSIS

 The West Pokot tragedy once again exposes the dangerous reality of Kenya’s booming but poorly regulated artisanal mining sector. Murkomen’s promises on safety, compensation and SACCO support signal a shift towards recognising small-scale mining as a legitimate economic lifeline rather than an illegal activity to be ignored. However, the disaster also raises hard questions about enforcement failures, licensing corruption and the influence of politically connected investors accused of displacing local miners. Governor Kachapin’s earlier warnings suggest the collapse may have been preventable.