The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) have vowed to champion rights of miners in Migori County. Programs advisor Furaha Charo made the announcement and raised alarm over the incessant violation of human rights at macalder Mines in Nyatike.
Charo, said they have received complaints from small scale artisanal miners over risks associated with their work environment. The issues have been brought to the attention of relevant authorities concerned with exploration of mineral sources, which she claims have been adamant to take action.
Investigations
She added that as an on organization they shall expedite investigations to the cause of deaths of small scale gold miners and ensure that the culprits are charged. Many have died on the shafts or after being buried alive as a result of the pits collapsing due to heavy rains.
In 2018, Land and environment court sitting in Migori ordered a foreign gold mining company to restore part of the mineral rich macalder hill that they destroyed with their blasting machines. However, the implementation of this directive has taken years with locals claiming that despite their land sitting on mineral deposits, they are subjected to abject poverty as foreigners reap sweet fortunes.
Isaiah Okoth, chairperson of Nyakaresi, a community based organization that champions for the rights of artisanal miners said they are yet to know how foreigners who have been exploiting the locals gained access to the hill. Despite the operation license of some of the companies having been revoked, locals here are now demanding for compensations.
