Former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa has called on leaders from Kakamega County to unite in resisting what he describes as a State takeover of mineral rich zones following the recent disputes over gold mining rights.
According to Mr. Wamalwa, the push by the government to control the mineral belts in Ikolomani and Migori must be opposed by local leaders across party lines. He warned that what is at stake is not just wealth, but ancestral land and the future of communities whose livelihoods rely on small scale mining.
Wamalwa argued that the current government’s “appetite for quick wealth” has gone too far and posed a threat to ordinary citizens. He stated that the aggressive push to appropriate gold rich land undermines long term trust between the State and local communities. In his address, he called it “impunity of the highest order,” urging all leaders to join forces with Senator Boni Khalwale in resisting what he said was harassment of locals by the State security apparatus.
The context for Wamalwa’s call is a wave of unrest in Kakamega County following plans by Shanta Gold Limited to begin large scale gold mining in the Isulu-Bushiangala area. Local residents – many of them artisanal miners working with rudimentary tools – have rejected the proposal, noting that for generations, small scale mining has been their main source of income. After recent protests erupted, several people were shot dead and others wounded when police clashed with demonstrators.
Details of the tragic confrontation have raised alarm among human rights observers. According to the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), the violence reflects a growing pattern in Kenya’s extractive sector: genuine civic dissent – including demands for fair compensation and consent – is increasingly met with brute force. The commission described the events as emblematic of “state and corporate repression,” and called for accountability for both the security agencies and corporate actors involved.
Many residents of Ikolomani remain defiant despite the bloodshed. Some insist that the gold beneath their land represents their “savings account,” a legacy passed down through generations. Without artisanal mining, they argue, they risk losing their only lifeline. They say that unless they receive assurances that their livelihoods will be protected with fair compensation and genuine community consent, they will continue to resist displacement.
The ex-Defense CS’s intervention reflects growing political tension surrounding resource governance in Western Kenya. As debates intensify over who should benefit from mineral wealth.
Should leaders heed Wamalwa’s call, Kakamega could become a focal point of resistance, potentially shaping how the country balances mining development with community rights and social justice.