Huge rocks broke loose from Romos Hills in Kasei, West Pokot County, rolling onto dozens of artisanal miners who were waiting near gold pits for ore to be brought to the surface, killing and burying others alive on Thursday.
At least 15 people – three of them women – died in the tragedy, according to the Ministry of Interior.
Rescue teams continued searching through the debris yesterday amid fears that more people remained trapped.
Witnesses said the group processing gold ore had little chance to escape as the rocks rolled towards the site.
The boulders and debris covered several pits, trapping diggers underground.
“The 12 men and three women were waiting for ore to be brought to the surface for processing when the rocks unexpectedly rolled down the hill, crushing them,” Lopet chief Isaac Lomwai told journalists.
“The rocks swept through the mining field with frightening force. Many miners fled in different directions. Some in the pits got out alive, but others were buried.”
Locals interviewed said mining may have destabilised the surface, triggering the deadly rockfall.
Kenya Red Cross personnel and residents of Kasei view the bodies found after rocks fell on miners on May 7, 2026.
Photo credit: Pool
The unregulated mining of gold, coupled with the ongoing downpours in the region, may have rendered the ground unstable, Chief Lomwai and other residents interviewed said.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen threatened action against anyone involved in illegal mining.
“It is unfortunate that the tragedy in Romos and Morita has claimed lives and left several residents injured. We will pursue those involved in illegal mining and have them prosecuted,” Murkomen said.
“It is painful, but investigations are ongoing to establish if the tragedy was as a result of illegal mining. We will take action against those found culpable,” the minister said in neighbouring Elgeyo Marakwet County.
West Pokot County Commissioner Daniel Saruni told the Saturday Nation by phone that he was heading to the scene to assess the situation before issuing a statement.
Many of the injured were taken to Turkwel Dispensary, while those in critical condition were rushed to Kapenguria Referral Hospital.
“We received five injured miners, two of them in critical condition. They had to be operated on,” Kapenguria Referral Hospital Superintendent Simon Kaplongit Kapchanga said.
He added that the miners suffered severe limb fractures, head injuries and other trauma, with some requiring amputations.
“Four men and a woman were admitted on Friday. Two of them were taken to the theatre and are now in stable condition,” Dr Kapchanga said.
“We have deployed tracing and rescue teams to the scene to support efforts to search for survivors and assist affected families,” said Kenya Red Cross Society manager in charge of the North Rift, Oscar Okumu.
“We supplied our team with body bags. Reports indicate that bodies are still at the scene,” Mr Okumu said by phone.
According to the agency, at least 12 critically injured miners were taken to Kapenguria Referral Hospital.
Mr Murkomen said he is working with his Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs colleague Ali Hassan Joho to enforce guidelines for mining.
“The two ministries will work together to ensure mining in West Pokot and other parts of the country is organised and regulated,” Mr Murkomen said during a thanksgiving at Dini ya Roho Mafuta Pole ya Africa and a fundraiser for infrastructure development of the church.
He was accompanied by Public Works Principal Secretary Joel Arumonyang, MPs Samuel Moroto (Kapenguria) and Rael Kasiwai (Woman Rep), former governor John Lonyangapuo and several ward representatives.
The tragedy struck barely a week after Governor Simon Kachapin warned of legal action against illicit gold mining in West Pokot.
He accused “powerful” individuals of exploiting local resources while destroying the environment, saying residents are increasingly frustrated by illegal mining.
Kenya Red Cross personnel and residents of Kasei view the bodies found after rocks fell on miners on May 7, 2026.
Despite repeated deaths reported in gold mining areas such as Kambi Karaya, Lami Nyeusi, Morita and Ramos, residents continue returning to the dangerous pits in search of livelihoods, often risking their lives in unsafe conditions.
Four people, including a 14-year-old, died in October 2025 following a gold mine collapse in Kambi Karaya in Pokot Central, while two other people were killed at the same site on June 11, 2025.
Four others — three men and one woman — died and five were injured on June 7, 2025, when a mine collapsed at Karon village in Turkwel, Pokot North Sub-county.
