Orengo Justice Ramula Gold Mine Clashes

Cup pressure peaks as Shabana host Kenya Police in blockbuster quarter-final Football

Upper Hill coach Walgwe unperturbed despite drawing giants in Prescott Cup group phase Rugby

Siaya Governor James Orengo has called for justice and protection of local livelihoods following the deaths of two people in violent incidents linked to mining activities in Gem Ramula.

Speaking when he visited the area, the governor said he was deeply saddened by the events of April 6, which left families grieving and heightened tensions within the community.

“No amount of mineral wealth is worth the blood of a Kenyan citizen,” Orengo said, offering condolences to the bereaved families.

The governor described the situation at the Ramula gold mine as no longer just a mining concern but a broader issue touching on human rights, justice, and the dignity of Siaya residents.

His remarks come amid growing unrest over operations linked to Shanta Gold, with locals raising concerns about displacement and lack of consultation.

Orengo warned that while investment in the mining sector is welcome, it should not come at the expense of an estimated 9,000 residents and artisanal miners who depend on the site for their livelihoods.

“We cannot ignore the serious concerns raised regarding the apparent lack of genuine community consent,” he said.

The county boss outlined a series of measures his administration intends to pursue, including demanding an immediate and independent investigation into the police shootings reported at Ramula Police Post.

He also emphasized the need for a more inclusive mining framework that protects small-scale miners instead of pushing them out.

“Large-scale mining must not mean the displacement of our local workforce. We want a model that integrates, rather than erases, our artisanal miners,” Orengo stated.

Additionally, the county government plans to engage the Ministry of Mining alongside Shanta Gold over alleged irregularities in the project’s approval process.

Orengo insisted that residents must be involved in decisions surrounding the extraction of local resources.

“The people of Siaya must be partners, not spectators, in the extraction of their own resources,” he said.

The governor stressed that development in Siaya should translate into tangible benefits such as improved education and healthcare, rather than displacement and loss.

"Siaya's wealth belongs to its people. We seek progress that builds schools and hospitals, not progress that leaves our people landless and in mourning,” he added.

As tensions remained, Orengo called for calm but maintained that lasting peace will depend on accountability and justice.

“We must find a path that balances industrial potential with the sacred rights of our community. Peace will only return when justice is served,” he said.