The huge rocks that rolled down Romos hill in Kasei, West Pokot County, killing 15 people on Thursday, had been described by locals as a disaster waiting to happen.
There were several warning signs, but desperation and the lure of gold pushed miners to continue working below the cliffs.
“The rocks exhibited signs of falling, and the miners had been asked to leave,” Mr Daniel Kiptoo, a survivor, told the Sunday Nation at the site.
Kenya Red Cross personnel and residents of Kasei view the bodies found after rocks fell on miners on May 7, 2026.
Photo credit: Pool
“We continued working because the place has gold deposits. Moving elsewhere means losing daily income.”
At least 12 women and three men who had gathered at the foot of Romos and Morita hills died when boulders suddenly rolled down.
“The rocks rolled fast, catching the mainly women who wait for the ore for processing by surprise. There was little chance of escape,” recalled Micah Musa, a female artisanal miner who lived to tell the tale.
“Some had heavy loads of soil on their heads while others were seated, sieving the soil for gold.”
Survivors and locals said constant excavation and the use of explosives may have weakened the already destabilised rocky surface, triggering the deadly rockfall.
They said miners use explosives to break rocks, leading to cracks in sections of the hill.
Kenya Red Cross personnel and residents of Kasei view the bodies found after rocks fell on miners on May 7, 2026.
Photo credit: Pool
While men blast the rocks on the upper sections of the hills, processors – mainly women – wait below.
“Women are easily available for cheap labour. Many are single mothers with no other source of income,” Mr John Kapekon, a resident, said.
West Pokot County Commissioner Daniel Saruni said the use of explosives and digging tunnels has destabilised the rock structure.
“It takes close to two hours to reach the top of the hill where miners use explosives and other tools to break the rocks for gold. Many of the dead were women because they were at the bottom of the hill processing or waiting to process the gold,” the administrator said.
Six miners were injured, with five admitted to Kapenguria County Referral Hospital.
“Two of the miners were in critical condition and had to undergo surgery,” Kapenguria Referral Hospital Superintendent Simon Kaplongit Kapchanga told reporters.
Dr Kapchanga added that the miners suffered severe arm and leg fractures, head injuries and other trauma. He said some would have their limbs amputated.
According to Mr Saruni, most of the dead were buried as families did not want to incur extra medical and mortuary costs.
“Post-mortem was performed in the presence of Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers and the bodies released to families,” Mr Saruni said.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the government would enforce regulations on mining and take action against those flouting them.
“It is painful to lose lives. Investigations are on to establish if the tragedy resulted from illegal activities. Those found culpable will face the law,” Mr Murkomen said in Sakale during a service at Dini ya Roho Mafuta Pole ya Africa Church on Friday.
The minister said he is working with his Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs colleague Ali Hassan Joho to enforce the regulations.
Kenya Red Cross personnel and residents of Kasei view the bodies found after rocks fell on miners on May 7, 2026.
Kasei locals urged the national and devolved governments to improve road and health infrastructure in the region to facilitate response to emergencies.
“Efforts to save lives were frustrated by bad roads and lack of hospitals here,” Mr Geoffrey Lolwoi, who has spent the last three months processing gold, told the Sunday Nation.
