Siaya,
Sunday, March 31, 2024
KNA by Philip Onyango
The residents of Ramula sub location in East Gem location in Siaya are protesting the last-minute cancellation of a public forum convened to discuss gold mining activities in the area.
Led by retired military official, Colonel (retired) Moses Adol and the coordinator of the Tuwajibike community-based organization, Benard Ochieng, the residents are accusing the police of being influenced by an investor eyeing gold deposit in the area and his cronies to deny them opportunity to ventilate and get information in regard to the proposed mining in the area.
Addressing the press at the Ramula Anglican Church, the residents challenged the investor, Shanta Gold limited to engage with the public openly and share with them the information they are seeking.
Col. Adol said that they were ready for the forum when they received a call from the officer commanding Yala police station declaring that their meeting had been cancelled for security reasons.
“We feel there is something more to it,” he said adding “there could be a few within the community who feel that something cannot go on unless they take control of the process”.
The coordinator of Tuwajibike CBO, Benard Ochieng said the community had many questions they wanted answered as the activities of the investor are shrouded in mystery.
Ochieng said that the public expected the company to tell them the method they will use and any plans to mitigate environmental impact of their activities.
“We are trying to create space for people to come and ask question and get information so that they could take informed stand in regard to gold mining in Ramula,” said the coordinator.
Other residents, among them Patrick Ochieng, Jane Omwony and mzee Richard Otieno Awange reiterated that they will not keep quiet and allow the investor to operate without giving them adequate information on what and how they want to operate and whether their activity will result into mass displacement of the residents.
They said that they have petitioned the Siaya County Assembly to intervene in the matter and are in the process of sending a petition to the Senate over the same.
A recent announcement by Shanta Gold Ltd of the existence of commercially viable gold deposits in the area has seen the locals engage in endless consultations among themselves and environmentalists and local leaders.
Information available in the company’s website states that the 2023 exploration in West Kenya has prioritized the expansion of the drilling programme at Ramula that is aimed at new discoveries and increase in mineral resource.
“In March, 2022, Shanta announced a maiden resource estimate for the Ramula target of 434 Koz grading of 2.08g/t which increased the total resources at our west Kenya project by a significant 37 per cent to 1.6 million oz,” reads the report.