Kenya Human Rights Commission has condemned the killing of two residents in Ramula, Siaya County, after protests over a disputed gold mining project turned deadly, accusing state security agencies and a foreign mining firm of using excessive force, intimidation, and disregarding court orders tied to community land rights.
The incident happened on Monday, April 6, 2026, in Gem–Ramula, when residents took to the streets to protest alleged forced evictions linked to operations by Shanta Gold Kenya Limited.
The demonstrations were driven by concerns over land ownership, lack of consent, and unclear resettlement and compensation processes, before escalating into violent confrontation.
Eyewitnesses said a group of youths moved toward the Ramula Police Post, where clashes broke out. Police are alleged to have responded by firing live bullets, killing Henry Otieno and Jack Omenda. At least five houses were also torched during the unrest, while security reinforcements, including General Service Unit officers, were later deployed to restore order.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission said the use of lethal force was unjustified, arguing that residents were taking part in a peaceful protest over land and mining grievances.
“We state, without reservation, that there can be no justification for the use of lethal force against unarmed citizens,”
The commission also accused the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and other security agencies of harassment, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation of local residents, saying such actions had left families under financial strain due to prolonged legal battles linked to what it termed unfounded charges.
“The use of live ammunition against peaceful protesters is a clear and unjustifiable abuse of power by state security agencies.We are witnessing the weaponisation of the criminal justice system to silence communities legitimately demanding accountability,”KHRC noted.
KHRC further faulted what it described as the securitisation of a regulatory dispute, arguing that the Ministry of Mining and Blue Economy should have taken charge instead of the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.
The commission also raised concern over the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, accusing it of failing to exercise independent judgment in sustaining charges against arrested residents.
On the legal front, KHRC alleged that mining activities were continuing despite a court order issued in case ELCLPET/E002/2025 by the Siaya Law Courts, which had stopped resettlement and compensation processes. It said this amounted to disregard for the authority of the courts.
The rights body further questioned the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the project, saying it lacked a Resettlement Action Plan despite the risk of displacement of more than 1,200 households. It added that affected communities had not been properly informed about compensation or relocation plans.
“Communities cannot be excluded from decisions that fundamentally affect their land, livelihoods, and future.The State has a duty to protect its citizens not to deploy force against them in defence of corporate interests,”the commission asserted.
KHRC also criticised remarks by the Principal Secretary for Mining, who indicated that licensing processes for Shanta Gold in Ikolomani could proceed despite unresolved issues in Ramula.
“Engagement with communities cannot be outsourced to boardrooms and hotels,” KHRC said.
Civil society organisations, including Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi!, also condemned the killings, describing them as part of a growing pattern of violence linked to land and mining disputes. They said the victims were shot during what they described as a peaceful demonstration over eviction fears and land rights.
“We are deeply saddened and outraged by the cold-blooded killing of two community members in Ramula,”
The groups also alleged continued harassment by security agencies, including arrests and detentions by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, which they said had caused emotional and economic suffering for families. In one cited case, a woman arrested alongside her three sons later experienced tragedy after one of her sons reportedly died by suicide due to sustained pressure.
Civil society further accused authorities of ignoring a court order halting resettlement and compensation linked to the mining project and raised concerns over weak environmental approvals, saying they lacked proper safeguards for affected communities.
They said the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent was not followed, deepening mistrust between residents and authorities.
The organisations have now called for the immediate suspension of Shanta Gold operations in Ramula and surrounding areas until full legal compliance and genuine consultations are undertaken. They also want independent investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, and prosecution of officers involved in the use of lethal force.
They further urged implicated officials to step aside to allow impartial investigations, while calling on the National Land Commission and the Ministry of Mining to intervene and safeguard community land rights.
Civil society warned that failure to address the crisis could expose the mining company to legal and reputational risks, stressing that the dispute reflects broader tensions in Kenya’s extractive sector over land, livelihoods, and governance.
