Two people died after a heap of soil collapsed on three adults who were engaged in artisanal mining along Naser Stream, near the border of Transmara West/South and Kuria East.
The incident occurred on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at about 1:40pm, police and witnesses said.
Police said the three miners were working alongside a dried-up stream when the soil suddenly collapsed, burying them.
Members of the public responded and attempted to rescue the victims. One of them, identified as Irakuzi Imenshi, a female adult from Burundi, died at the scene.
Two others were rushed to Kehancha Sub-County Hospital for emergency treatment. One of them, identified as Marwa Sereka, a Kenyan male from Kuria, later died while receiving treatment.
The third victim, a male adult from Burundi, survived the incident and was receiving medical attention.
Police officers visited the scene following the incident, which was reported to Gem Police Post.
Authorities said the site was subsequently cleared after the rescue operation.
And a 20-year-old man died after an artisanal mining tunnel collapsed on him in Kanyuto Village, East Gem Location, Siaya County.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at around 5pm while the man was working inside the mining tunnel.
Police identified the victim as Paul Opiyo, who was aged about 20 years.
According to police, the walls of the tunnel suddenly collapsed, trapping Opiyo inside.
Members of the public managed to retrieve his body from the collapsed tunnel before police officers from Yala Police Station arrived at the scene.
Police processed the scene and established that the body had no visible external injuries.
The body was later moved to the Yala Level IV Hospital mortuary, where it is being preserved pending a postmortem examination.
Police have commenced investigations into the incident.
Such incidents have been common at mining sites amid calls for caution to ensure safety for all.
Authorities have been running campaigns to ensure the mining sites are safe for miners in general.
Activist sues to compel police to produce missing activist Mulinge Muteti
If you like our work, you can buy us a soda
Buy us a soda 🥤
