NAIROBI, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Kenya said on Friday it has launched investigations after a tragic gold mine collapse left at least 15 people dead.
The incident occurred at an informal artisanal site in Rumos Hills, in Kenya's northwestern part, on Thursday evening, when a large stone fell and collapsed a section of the mine, burying workers alive.
Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration Kipchumba Murkomen issued a warning against illegal gold mining in West Pokot County, particularly commercial operations conducted without a license.
Murkomen has also instructed security agencies to arrest individuals engaging in unlicensed commercial mining, stressing that those involved will be prosecuted.
The crackdown follows a series of fatal mine collapses in areas in northwest Kenya, which have raised urgent safety and environmental degradation concerns.
Several community members engage in informal artisanal gold mining as a primary or supplementary livelihood, often without the necessary technical skills or safety equipment.
Driven by limited employment opportunities, residents often resort to mining in hazardous conditions to evade authorities. ■
