Siaya County Government led by Governor James Orengo has been put on the spot after thousands of residents in his county risk displacement.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission in a recent paper claims the County Government is not listening to the residents' outcry in a case where a company registered in Guernsey, prospecting for valuable minerals in the Western Region discovered high-grade gold in the county. Thousands of residents interviewed by the lobby group all expressed fears of being ejected.
Villagers facing potential displacement, loss of land and livelihood are all seeking clarifications. The human rights group has warned in the event the county government does not intervene, families which have resided in the area for decades will have their homes demolished and their land taken away.
Residents are hesitant and unsure if they will benefit from the large-scale mining once the gold mining process begins.
KHRC has revealed that despite the residents protesting, both the County Government and the company in question have not responded to and addressed the concerns or shown the desire to engage in meaningful dialogue.
"Despite community protests, the company and the government are unwilling to engage meaningfully", KHRC revealed in a statement posted on its website.
The residents through the the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and Haki Madini Kenya (HMK) petitioned the Siaya County Assembly, advocating for sustainable mining practices grounded in informed, transparent, and inclusive decision-making. The residents raised concerns over the company's operations, sustainability and social responsibility.
Initially, the Siaya County Assembly had called for a referendum regarding the mining company's operations in Ramula. The residents argue that without proper community sensitization, evident information sharing, and consultations, the project can cause social and environmental damage.
As the situation unfolds, the Ramula community remains uncertain about their future, caught between economic pressure and the desire to protect their land and heritage.
Residents have now resorted to writing to the Siaya County Assembly to oppose the displacement.
In January 2023, the mining company reported that it had found an additional 1.5 million ounces of high-grade gold at the Ramula Camp within the Lirhanda corridor, which stretches from Kakamega to Siaya.
The company in question has had operations in the region since 2019 after setting up shop in Kenya.
