Residents of Migori Municipality are raising alarm over what they describe as years of unchecked pollution from gold processing plants operating within residential and commercial areas, accusing authorities of failing to enforce environmental regulations despite mounting health concerns.
The residents claim emissions from gold smelting and processing activities have exposed thousands of people to hazardous chemicals, leading to respiratory complications and other health problems while threatening the broader environment.
According to concerns raised by residents during recent engagements, many of the processing plants are situated close to homes, businesses and public facilities, exposing residents to toxic fumes released during gold extraction and smelting.
“The plants do not meet environmental standards. A lot of fumes from smelting are hazardous and chemicals used in gold smelting are affecting residents,” one resident noted during the consultations.
Another resident lamented that the effects are being felt beyond immediate neighbourhoods, saying the pollution is affecting both livelihoods and public health.
“A lot of pollutants are affecting not only respiratory health but also general health,” the resident said.
The residents further accused government agencies of lax enforcement, arguing that mining investors continue to operate with little regard for environmental safety despite repeated complaints from the public.
Among those who spoke out were local business operators and homeowners who said the municipality’s rapid growth is being undermined by unregulated mining activities.
“Businesses, commercial buildings and residents in Migori Town are all affected,” said one participant during the public discussions.
A Long-Standing Problem
The concerns echo findings made by a government-appointed multi-agency task force that in 2019 ordered the closure of more than 40 gold processing plants across Migori County for violating mining and environmental regulations.
The task force, chaired by then Migori County Commissioner Joseph Rotich, exposed widespread non-compliance within the lucrative gold industry, revealing that many processing plants lacked proper waste disposal systems, storage facilities for hazardous chemicals and basic occupational safety measures.
At the time, Mr Rotich disclosed that several operators were using cyanide, a highly toxic chemical, in gold extraction processes.
“You can see most use cyanide to process their gold. Cyanide is a toxic chemical. It is illegally imported from neighbouring Tanzania,” Rotich said during the crackdown.
Investigations by the task force found that many operators were disposing chemical waste directly into rivers and the surrounding environment, threatening major water sources including River Migori and River Kuja, which drain into Lake Victoria.
Environmental experts warned that prolonged exposure to such pollutants could have devastating consequences for surrounding communities.
Health Risks Becoming More Visible
Public health experts have repeatedly warned that exposure to toxic emissions from gold processing plants can lead to respiratory illnesses, skin diseases, neurological disorders and long-term organ damage.
Residents say the situation has worsened as more processing facilities emerge within populated sections of Migori Municipality.
Some pointed to previous incidents involving processing plants, including reports of gas explosions and chemical-related accidents, as evidence that safety standards remain inadequate.
The residents are now demanding a comprehensive environmental audit of all gold processing facilities operating within Migori Municipality, relocation of plants away from residential zones and regular health screening programmes for affected communities.
Workers Also Bear the Burden
Beyond environmental concerns, the gold sector in Migori has long been associated with poor labour conditions.
The 2019 government investigation established that many mine owners had failed to provide adequate protective gear to workers, ignored occupational safety standards and underpaid labourers despite existing labour regulations.
The Ministry of Labour also raised concerns about child labour within some mining operations and accused operators of disregarding laws governing workplace safety and employee welfare.
Over the years, dozens of miners have reportedly lost their lives after being trapped in collapsing mining shafts, underscoring the dangerous nature of the largely informal sector.
Calls for Urgent Intervention
Residents now want both the national and county governments to act decisively before the health situation deteriorates further.
They argue that while gold mining remains an important economic activity in Migori County, it should not come at the expense of public health and environmental sustainability.
“We are not against mining,” one resident said. “But it must be regulated. People cannot continue making profits while residents suffer diseases caused by toxic fumes and pollution.”
The renewed outcry is expected to pile pressure on regulatory agencies, including the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the Ministry of Mining and county authorities, to enforce existing laws and ensure that gold processing activities comply with environmental, health and safety standards.
For many residents, the question is no longer whether pollution exists, but how much damage has already been done to a community living in the shadow of Migori’s booming gold industry.
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