A violent confrontation at a quarry in Nyatike, Migori County, has left six people injured, including two police officers and a county assembly member, highlighting escalating tensions over local mining rights.
The incident occurred during a visit by Migori Governor Ochilo Ayako, who had arrived at the scene to mediate a month-long dispute over the leasing of quarry sections to investors. Governor Ayako stated, “I went there to see artisanal miners to look at the place and to conceptualize what is going on.”
However, the governor’s arrival sparked immediate unrest. A group of miners began heckling, preventing Ayako from speaking. The situation quickly deteriorated as protesters threw stones at vehicles and set tires ablaze, prompting police intervention to restore order.
In the ensuing chaos, some miners reportedly used blunt tools to assault police officers and create havoc. Among the injured were two police officers and Macalder Nyakarwanda, a member of the Migori County Assembly.
The conflict stems from disagreements over the distribution of quarry leases to investors, with local miners and outside interests at odds. Reports indicate that tensions had been building for weeks, with local miners allegedly chasing away outsiders to halt their mining activities.
Nyakarwanda, speaking from his hospital bed, criticized the county government’s handling of the situation. “There was a day the governor called us in a meeting and I told him point blank that the outsiders are exploiting our people and taking our resources. And the governor has refused,” he told the press.
The incident highlights the complex challenges facing local governments in managing natural resources and balancing the interests of local communities with economic development. It also underscores the potential for violence when such conflicts remain unresolved.
In a related development, Kakamega Senator Bony Khalwale has taken legal action to halt mining activities by an investor in Ikolomani, citing the need for proper procedures to be followed. This separate case further illustrates the widespread nature of mining-related disputes in the region.
