Four people were killed and six others, among them two police officers, were rushed to hospital on Thursday after violent clashes broke out in Ikolomani during a meeting on a proposed Sh680 billion gold mining project.
Western regional police commander Issa Mohamoud confirmed the deaths and said those injured were taken to the Kakamega County General Hospital for treatment.
The chaos erupted as the Director-General of the National Environmental Management Authority held a public forum to gather the views of residents and stakeholders on the planned mining venture, which would involve moving more than 800 households from the area.
The confrontations turned deadly when police opened fire after residents hurled stones at them. Two officers, a man and a woman, were left with serious injuries after a group of rioters attacked them using metal bars and wooden clubs.
Tension spread across the area as protesters barricaded the Sigalagala–Butere road, lit bonfires, and confronted travelers. They pushed their way into Imusali Primary School, where the NEMA meeting was set to take place, clashing with officers who were eventually overpowered.
The crowd dismantled tents, smashed hundreds of plastic chairs, burnt the sound system, and carried away metal bars. They also stormed the administration block of the nearby Imusali Secondary School, breaking windows, destroying property, and setting parts of the building on fire.
Four journalists covering the meeting were injured after being attacked by the rioters. Their cameras and mobile phones were taken.
One reporter lost a laptop, a phone, and a camera, while another suffered head and hand injuries after being struck with a metal bar. He received treatment at Sheywe Hospital in Khayega and was discharged.
A previous meeting at Bushangala Technical Training Institute on November 12 was cancelled at the last minute when residents became hostile.
A resident, Alfred Shitiavai, said the community would not accept being pushed off their land.
“When Shanta came here, we agreed that they would agree with us before sinking shafts on our land upon paying us. All of a sudden, we’re now being told we should leave our land for mining. This is unacceptable,” he said.
Local opposition to the large gold mining project in Kakamega South has been growing, with residents expressing fears over the environmental, cultural, and social effects of the planned mine.
Shanta Gold Limited, a British-based firm, recently said it had discovered what it terms one of the country’s largest gold deposits, valued at about Sh683 billion. Its feasibility study shows that 337 acres of mostly private land would be required, affecting nearly 800 homes.
According to the Environmental Impact Assessment submitted to NEMA, the company’s Kenyan subsidiary has confirmed 1.27 million ounces of gold at the Isulu–Bushiangala underground mining site in Kakamega South.
The study, prepared by Kurrent Technologies together with South Africa’s Digby Wells Environmental, outlines a plan for a large underground mine stretching across Musoli and Isulu, around 55 kilometres from Kisumu.
However, residents from Isulu, Bushiangala, and Musoli formally opposed the proposal. In a memorandum to NEMA, they questioned the community engagement process and warned of the project’s impact on the environment and their livelihoods.
“We object to the approval of this project because it is a private commercial venture, not a public purpose project, and therefore cannot lawfully acquire ancestral land without consent,” the memo reads.
The memorandum also warns that cultural sites, family incomes, and community wellbeing could be affected if protections are not clearly defined.
Residents say concerns raised in an earlier petition in July 2025 have not been addressed. They cite gaps in public participation, including lack of translated documents and limited inclusion of women, elders, and people living with disabilities.
Community members say their survey across 18 villages found that many households had not seen the EIA report. They are asking for the documents to be made available in Kiswahili, Luhya, and in formats that are accessible to all.
They also want more details about how the mine will manage waste, protect water sources such as the Yala, Luyeku, Mukongolo, and Itechedi rivers, and control dust and fumes from mining operations.
Another key issue raised is the protection of cultural sites. Residents say there are sacred places and graves within the project zone and want a Cultural Heritage Management Plan created with guidance from local custodians.
