Why Senators are demanding justice for gold clash victims

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale leads Bushiangala residents to protest against claims that they may be forced to leave their ancestral land following the discovery of gold in Idakho, Ikolomani Constituency, on November 12, 2025. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]  

Senators have raised alarm over the loss of lives in Ikolomani Constituency, Kakamega County, amid tensions over the planned relocation of locals following the discovery of gold valued at Sh687 billion

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale said eight people, including seven residents and one police officer, died after security personnel raided villages including Ikolomani, Isulu, Bushiangala and Musali.

The community opposes the decision to allow foreigners to control the gold. Khalwale questioned why the private interests of Shanta Gold Mining Company, which has received special treatment from the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema), are being prioritised over the locals.

“If the natural resource Amboseli National Park can benefit Kajiado locals, the gold in Ikolomani should belong to the people of Kakamega County,” he said. He criticized Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen for permitting the police action and the county government for facilitating the company’s entry.

Dr Khalwale said the country should ask itself, who is pushing the interest of a private investor, Shanta Gold Mining Company Limited, which has been accorded special treatment by Nema.

“I want to tell people that if it is right for the natural resource called Amboseli National Park to be given to the local people of Kajiado, then the natural resource called gold in Ikolomani should be given to the people of Ikolomani Constituency and Kakamega County,” he said.

The Senator wondered why the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen allowed police officers to go into Ikolomani villages to kill people and why the Kakamega County Government held a meeting to prepare ground for the company to enter Ikolomani.

Khalwale said that Sh687 billion is far too much money for the people of Ikolomani to allow some individuals from Nairobi supporting foreigners to take the resource. They will also not cave into intimidation by some powerful individuals who want to take what is rightfully theirs.

“The people of Ikolomani voted for this Government, I led the community to vote for the Government, and they come to Ikolomani to kill our people, nobody will intimidate me, you cannot stop the people of Ikolomani from defending their national resource,” he said.

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi told the House that the Shanta Gold Company is not just creating havoc in Kakamega but it is creating trouble in Vihiga especially on the boundary between Vihiga and Siaya stating that locals are not sleeping in their homes because they are being harassed by police.

“Something has to be done about this foreign company that is being supported by the Government to intimidate Kenyans. People are not sleeping in their homes because they are being harassed by police yet they are seeking justice,” said Osotsi.

Nominated Senator Catherine Mumma urged the Senate Lands Committee to take interest in what is happening in Kakamega, where gold has apparently been discovered and a private company would like to move in.

Mumma said the manner in which this company has conducted itself in terms of public participation and consultation with the community has not been transparent. She argued that the community in Ikolomani feels that they are about to be displaced without proper consultation and understanding of what is happening.

The Nominated Senator said that Nema actually gave a notice for public participation, but did not provide a report for the community to look into. She claimed that the report was only availed the day before the public participation, which was objected to three weeks ago, forcing Nema to call off that exercise.

“We are wondering why the Government has to use excessive force to force public participation to justify a report that would bring in this investor. I urge the committee to look into the role of NEMA, and whether it is acting independently instead of being an ally and an accomplice to those who are coming in,” said Mumma.