Brokers take the shine, cash from gem miners of Baringo

Patrick Kiptimat sifts for the precious stone at the mine

To get to the nearest shopping centre to Lesisunyei village in Mochongoi, Baringo County, one would have to cover 50 kilometres.

The road leading to the sparsely populated area is impassable and locals have to walk for at least 10 kilometres across mountains, valleys and rivers to reach their homes.

Although they are welcoming, residents of the sleepy village in Chebinyiny location remain cautious of strangers for fear of exploitation.

Their fears are driven by the fact that the village sits on deposits of a precious gem used in making high-end jewelry. Since 2002, locals have been engaging in mining of ruby.

They camp in the area where the precious stone is found and use crude means  to mine the stone, which some see as a curse. They claim those who benefit from its proceeds are not local people, but middlemen who buy the stone after it has been mined.

Over 20 feet

Open dug pits dot the area, some more than 20 feet deep, all in the name of searching for the precious stone.

Hardly half a kilometre from the mining area is River Waseges whose water is used in panning. Residents also use the water for their domestic needs.

During mining, locals use a hoe to dig into the ground, the soil packed in sacks is carried to the river where it is washed as one keenly tries to find the pink to red blood-coloured stone.

The Standard met residents engaging in their day-to-day routine, hoping to strike it rich. The scorching sun does little to discourage the men and women busy at the site.

A sweaty David Kipsaramat, one of the miners, said it was so sad that they engage in the tedious mining process only for other people to benefit.

Mr Kipsaramat recalls an incident when he sold a 1.5 gramme ruby to a man who offered him Sh20,000. He met the man a month later driving a Prado with a sticker bearing his name.

He said a gramme of the stone should go for at least Sh100,000.

“We get stones (ruby) but we are being exploited. I sold someone my gem weighing 1.5 grammes, we met later and he was driving a car bearing a sticker with my name,” a dejected Kipsaramat said.

He said those who buy the stones tell them that most of what they get are rejects.

He wished he would have kept the ruby until he got a better market price for it, but all that is now wishful thinking. He revealed that he has been mining for the last six years and has nothing to show for it.

Patrick Kiptim from Emining in Mogotio left his home last year to go test the waters at the mine. Though life there is hard, he feels it is a much better option to what he left behind.

The father of 10 reveals that he earns a living from the mines and hopes life will be better despite the exploitation.

He said one could get up to 50 grammes of ruby a month when things are good.

A gramme of ruby, which has not been broken, he said, earns one over Sh100,000. However, with their poor mining methods most are broken into pieces and they end up selling as rejects.

The stone, he said, is a precious gift the county has and should invest in. 

He believes though found in small quantities, much more can be realised from it if proper mining methods are employed.

Alice Ng’etuny wished the miners would get market for the stone as it would be a life changer.

Former Mining CS Dan Kazungu in 2016 said the Baringo ruby is of the same quality as that of Cambodia.

A past commentary from the Gemological Institute of America acknowledged the value of Kenyan gemstones, specifically the rubies found in Sandai area of Baringo.

Mining companies have had difficulties in prospecting and mining in the area.

Corby Limited was licensed to prospect and mine the red rubies in 2004. It constructed a dam and an all-weather road as part of its corporate social responsibility programme.

Between 2006 and 2007, the firm took mining equipment to the area hoping to start prospecting for the minerals.

Operations began but problems arose when allegations started going round that they were polluting water in the dam they had constructed.

The National Environment Management Authority carried out research but found no toxins in the water.

“Mine workers were attacked, capital equipment vandalised and the road leading to the mine blocked by the locals. Corby Ltd withdrew from the area and closed its operations,” said Richard Bett.

People who had been employed lost their jobs and the locals were left in poverty.

In November 2012, a London-based miner, Red Rock Resources, got a go-ahead to prospect for ruby in the area.

An approval was given, but locals claim due to insecurity, the company left.

The pink rubies was seen to present some hope for Kenya’s gem industry.

Baringo County Mining and Natural Resources Director Patrick Kitilit said they are aware of the existence of rubies in the region, but are yet to get an interested investor.

Mr Kitilit said if someone shows interest, the county will not hesitate to show him where the precious stones are.

“We know the precious stones exist, but we have not had someone interested to do the mining. If we get someone today, we will show them where the gem is,” Kitilit said.

The director said their office has not received any complaints on alleged exploitation of miners in the area.