Migori County Commissioner David Gitonga has ordered the closure of the Komere Murram excavation site to avoid danger from students and other residents who flocked to the place to collect gold deposits from the exposed rocks.
He said his office received reports of students skipping classes and examinations to go for the gold ores at the expense of their studies.
“If we allow this trend to continue it will jeopardize the lives of our children who will be lured into dropping out of school to go into gold mining.” He said
The County boss singled out Sakwa location as the highly affected area with many learners being reported absent from class daily.
According to Sakwa location Chief Ezekiel Okeyo learners flock to the murram site in the company of their parents searching for gold from morning to evening.
“Some parents defy my orders to restrain their children from engaging in the activity saying their children offer manpower in collecting more gold deposits for sale.” He said.
Education News learned that, among the schools that experienced frequent student absenteeism in the last two months are Kopudho, Kitere, Kanga, Rongo and Ranen.
Others include Mosache, Riosiri, Mariwa and Ayora from the neighbouring Kisii County.
The gold deposits were discovered in the Komere area by the Chinese Road Construction Company in Awendo Sub County when they were excavating murram for upgrading the Kisii -Isebania Highway.
Rosemary Atieno a miner at Rongo town said heavy tractors and earth movers made the work easier as they unearthed the gold owes to the surface.
“I have already sold the gold I collected from the Komire site for Sh 40, O00 and I will not leave the site until I get rich.” She Said.
Peter Opondo a resident of Rongo town agreed that in the last two weeks, many people have invaded Rongo town in search of gold.
Engineer Enosh Odumu of Egis Construction Company and the Site Manager of the road said the rush for gold in the area obstructed and slowed down the construction process of the Kisii-Isebania road.
The Engineer appealed to both the National and County governments to harmonize operations at the sites to enable both his firm and the locals to operate peacefully.
By Enock Okong’o
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