Sotik's wretched of the earth cry out for help

By Vitalis Kimutai

An ear-shattering blast goes off, as alarm rents the air, disrupting the peace in the four villages in Sotik District in Bomet County.

Hundreds of villagers, young and old, abandon what they are doing and run in different directions as fast as they can.

Sotik residents are up in arms over mining firms they claim are ruining their lives, through death or injury to humans and animals, and polluting the environment

Johana Chepkwony who lost use of one eye following an accident.

Christopher Chepkwony shows a crack on his semi-permanent house, allegedly caused by tremors resulting from explosives used by mining companies in Sotik.

A truck ferries rocks for crushing into ballast. Photos: Vitalis Kimutai/Standard

The earthshaking blast echoes across the land, as billows of smog and dust rise in the air, as fragments of rock fly in different directions.

Such cacophony is replicated in the four villages of Kapcholio, Kimouito, Kapchepkoro and Kapsiomei, whenever men at Ajiwa Samchi Company get down to work.

They have been at it for the past 20 years, mining ballast for construction of roads and buildings in the South Rift region, Nyanza and parts of Western.

Five years ago, Samchi were joined by H-Young East Africa Limited, which is involved in similar activities, and with as devastating consequences for the locals.

“Two people have previously been killed by a hail of stones and shrapnel from the explosions, while three others have incurred serious injuries,” reveals David Bett, a resident.

The blasted stones, which are thrust far and wide, have also claimed at least five head of cattle in the few past years.

Health hazard

“Both companies (Samchi and H-Young) use explosives once a month to mine stones in the quarries in the area. This has not only been a health hazard to residents, but also a cause of death,” says Jackson Ng’eno, another resident.

“Our houses have been destroyed, local rivers and streams have either registered a sharp decline in volume or dried up altogether,” he says.

Most of the residents are subsistence farmers and have been forced to spend their meagre resources seeking medical attention for a multiplicity of ailments, mainly restoring sight damaged by flying stone shrapnel.

A visitor to the schools and villages in the area would be forgiven for thinking that the locals have been sleep-deprived for several days owing to their blood shot, watery eyes which they keep massaging or wiping dry.

As a consequence, learning has been disrupted in local schools such as Kimoso, Queen of Angels, Kapchepkoro, Kapcholio, Masubeti and Kisaile has been disrupted.

Winny Chebet, a Class Eight pupil at Kapcholio Primary School says she has suffered eye complications from the quarry pollution, which in turn has affected her studies.

“The eye problem has affected her studies as she cannot read for long. I have taken her to many hospitals for treatment, including Kenyatta National Hospital, but we are yet to find a solution,” explains her father William Kirui.

Line of duty

Kirui, who is a former Ajiwa Samchi employee also suffers from eye problems that he claims he picked in the line of duty.

“A truck driver reversed suddenly as I stood behind, after loading ballast onto it, and I fractured my hand as a result. Despite being hospitalised and undergoing treatment, I never regained full use of the hand,” Kirui says sadly.

Gideon Kipkoech, 12, has red water eyes, permanently running nose and he cannot read for more than an hour.

“At the hospital, I was told I am allergic to dust which has affected my eyesight and respiratory system,” Kipkoech says, repeatedly wiping his eyes and nose.

His friends, Nicholas Kiprono,Festus Kiprono,Collin Kipkirui and Gilbert Kimutai ,all pupils at Kapcholio primary school, have similar health complications.

Using one eye

Mzee Johana Chepkwony lost the use of his right eye after being hit by a stone while working at Ajiwa Samchi and has had to contend with the use of one eye.

“I was only paid Sh25,000 for medication, but the Sh15,000 balance that I was to be paid has not been forthcoming, four years on,” Chepkwony laments, adding that he was laid off thereafter.

A worker at one of the quarries who declined to be named said the two companies do not pay them overtime or provide them with protective gear like helmets, gloves and gumboots, as stipulated by the law, among other safety requirements.