A rescue operation is ongoing after twelve individuals were trapped after a portion of a gold mine in western Kenya collapsed, according to police reports on Tuesday. The incident took place on Monday evening.
Kenya’s mining sector is relatively small compared to that of its neighbouring countries. Nevertheless, despite significant growth in recent years, much of it operates without regulations, forcing miners to navigate inadequate safety conditions and threats from organised crime groups.
“The information we have indicates that about 20 miners were present when the collapse occurred, but eight have been saved,” said Daniel Makumbu, a police commander in the Kakamega region.
“The ongoing search and rescue mission is actively taking place, and we are advising the crowd to keep their distance to facilitate the operation and prevent risking their safety due to the instability of the area,” he continued.

According to a report from Africa’s Institute for Security Studies, legal small-scale mining, predominantly focused on gold, contributed $224 million to Kenya’s economy in 2022—approximately half of its mining output—and provided jobs for around 250,000 individuals.
In May 2024, at least five people lost their lives when heavy rains led to the collapse of an unauthorised gold mine in the Hillo area, which is situated near the border with Ethiopia.