Turkana County suspends gold mining site near school after public outcry

The Directorate of Mining in Turkana County has suspended gold mining around Nagetei Girls Secondary School after a public outcry over environmental safety.

The county government stated that it issued an immediate suspension of the gold mining activities around the school on Monday due to environmental compliance and public safety issues.

The acting Director for Mineral Resources Elim Areman said they acted on numerous complaints from the local community.

"We found the mining activities were very close to the school, posing a serious threat to the local environment. This situation is unacceptable and the operator has been ordered to cease operations immediately," he said.

He stated that an earlier report by the county officials revealed widespread non-compliance with environmental protection laws and the suspension was part of wider efforts to regulate artisanal mining and promote sustainable practices within the sector.

The directive also aligns with recent efforts by the national government to revoke all existing mining licenses to combat illegal mining and restore compliance with environmental standards.

The mining site is located in the Nagetei, one of Turkana's rich gold-mining areas.

A recent survey by the State Department of Mining highlights a disconnect between the substantial mineral deposits in Turkana and the benefits gained by the local community.

The report attributes the disparity to widespread illegal mining, which has led to financial exploitation and environmental degradation.

The report further called for strict enforcement of mining regulations to protect the local community's interest.