Two brothers killed in tragic mining outing
Migori Governor Okoth Obado addressing the press at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on August 17, 2014. Six years after Kenya and Uganda carried out a joint survey to establish the ownership of Migingo Island, no official announcement of the outcome has ever been made. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI |
What you need to know:
- Peter Omollo, 47, and Fredrick Ouma, 32, were among 10 miners who buried in Osiri gold mines in Nyatike Sub-County after the walls caved in.
- Osiri mines claim lives every year, and at one point, the government attempted to close it. However, the move was reversed following pressure from locals who depend on gold mining for a livelihood.
- Many traders have opened shops and hotels to serve over 300 miners living in Osiri Village.
Two brothers were killed in a gold mine in Migori on Monday, according to local police boss Dishon Chaka.
Peter Omollo, 47, and Fredrick Ouma, 32, were among 10 miners who buried in Osiri gold mines in Nyatike Sub-County after the walls caved in.
Eight survivors are nursing serious injuries at Macalder Hospital in Migori.
Some miners spent several hours trying to rescue their colleagues and retrieve the bodies beneath the soil.
“We have warned gold miners to be extra careful especially during the rainy season, but some have ignored the directive,” Mr Chaka said.
Osiri mines claim lives every year, and at one point, the government attempted to close it. However, the move was reversed following pressure from locals who depend on gold mining for a livelihood.
MODERNISE MINING
Local ward representative Erick Gogo asked the State to modernise mining to avert more deaths.
“We want modern machines brought here to assist our people in mining. We cannot go on losing more lives through archaic methods of mining,” he said.
More miners have flocked the region to look for gold to sell in a bid to raise cash for Christmas and the New Year festivities.
Migori criminal investigations boss Sospeter Munyi urged workers to seek technical advise from mining departments before venturing into the poorly-lit, deep tunnels.
He said the walls of the mines might have been weakened by the heavy rains currently pounding the region.
BE CAREFUL
Many traders have opened shops and hotels to serve over 300 miners living in Osiri Village.
Migori Governor Okoth Obado asked the miners to be extra careful while going about their business to avoid such fatal accidents.
“The use of fuel generators in the mines will be discarded and replaced with electric ones that do not emit carbon monoxide,” he said.
