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Grief and shock have gripped Nyandiwa village in Bar Kalare, Gem Constituency, after two artisanal miners were killed when a gold mine shaft collapsed on Sunday, burying them alive.
The fatal incident in East Gem Ward has once again exposed the dangerous realities of small-scale mining in Siaya County, where hundreds of youths risk their lives daily in search of gold.
Eyewitness Edwin Mboya, who was working at the site, recounted the terrifying moments leading up to the collapse. He said he heard a strange rumble from underground just seconds before disaster struck.
“I was working with the two victims. They were inside the shaft while I remained outside. Suddenly, I heard a loud sound and immediately raised the alarm,” Mboya said.
His warning triggered a frantic rescue attempt as fellow miners rushed to the scene. However, their efforts were futile. The two men had already been trapped beneath tonnes of soil and rocks.
Another miner, Silas Kwendo, described the incident as deeply heartbreaking, noting that the victims were young men trying to earn an honest living.
“It is a sad incident because these were youths in their prime. But even in this tragedy, we urge young people not to lose hope. We are all striving to survive through legitimate means,” he said.
The collapse has forced a temporary halt to mining activities in the area as residents gather in mourning and fear spreads among local mining communities.
Leaders of the Bar Kalare Cluster Artisanal Miners Association have now renewed calls for urgent government intervention to improve safety standards.
Chairman Maurice Otieno appealed to both the national and county governments to provide essential protective gear for miners.
“We need basic safety equipment such as helmets, gloves and gumboots. These are not luxuries—they are lifesaving necessities,” Otieno said.
Association official Francis Ogutu Aremo revealed that preliminary findings point to a hidden danger beneath the ground — an abandoned mine shaft that the victims unknowingly broke into.
“The site had met safety expectations. Unfortunately, the miners accidentally connected to an old, abandoned shaft, triggering the collapse,” Aremo explained.
The incident has reignited concerns over the growing number of unregulated and poorly mapped artisanal mining sites across Siaya and the wider Nyanza region.
Authorities have launched investigations into the tragedy, even as pressure mounts on regulators to enforce stricter safety protocols and conduct proper mapping of abandoned shafts to prevent further loss of life.
As families mourn and a community grapples with yet another avoidable tragedy, the question remains: how many more lives must be lost before safety in artisanal mining becomes a national priority?
