Tensions have been simmering in Nyatike Sub-County, Migori, for months, but the situation reached a boiling point on Saturday, September 14, 2024.
The violent clashes at the Macalder Copper and Gold Mines have left multiple people injured and vehicles destroyed, with the political feud between local leaders and mining stakeholders at the heart of the chaos.
Political Disputes Spark Tension
The trouble began in the days leading up to the fateful chaotic event.
Macalder Kanyarwanda Member of County Assembly Felix Okwanyo, who also chairs the Macalder Copper Hills Sacco, took to social media to issue a veiled threat.
He warned that he would attend the opening of Mariba Dispensary, a function organized by Migori Governor Ochillo Ayacko.
This might have seemed like a harmless political posturing, but Okwanyo’s message seemed to be targeting Nyatike Member of Parliament Tom Odege and Migori County Roads Executive John Oring’o, his rivals in the area.
However, on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, Okwanyo was noticeably absent from the dispensary’s grand opening.
Instead, former area MCA George Duro and other political heavyweights like Got Kachola MCA Calvince Seko and Masaba MCA Clarkson Mwita were in attendance.
Migori Governor Dr Ochillo Ayacko, addressing the crowd, seemed unfazed by Okwanyo’s absence but couldn’t resist a jab.
“I only saw him on social media when he threatened to attack Odege at this function,” Ayacko said humorously, dismissing the feud.
He added, “We will streamline the gold sector, especially on revenue allocation to wananchi.”
Mining Conflict Escalates into Political Violence
The political drama, however, was far from over.
On Saturday, September 14, 2024, the situation took a turn for the worse when Governor Ayacko visited the Macalder Copper and Gold Mines.
Felix Okwanyo, who had earlier vowed to disrupt the event, was present, and this time, he wasn’t joking.
Violent clashes erupted, leading to a full-scale melee.
Youths, miners, and police officers were caught up in the chaos.
Okwanyo, two police officers, and over a dozen people were injured in the fracas.
At least six miners were treated for gunshot wounds at the nearby Macalder public hospital, and other injured individuals, including Okwanyo, were rushed to a hospital in Migori town.
Several vehicles were vandalized during the chaos, with one completely burnt by angry youths.
Government Suspends Mining Operations
As the dust settled from the clashes, the government acted swiftly.
On September 15, 2024, Regional Mining Officer Joshua Boiwo issued an official letter suspending all copper mining activities in Nyatike Sub-County.
The letter, addressed to Copper Hill Exploration and Mining Resources Company Limited, stated that the mining company had not complied with the Mining (Strategic Mineral) Regulations of 2017.
“All copper mining and dealings are suspended until such a time the law on strategic minerals is complied with,” Boiwo wrote in the letter.
The suspension came after a gazette notice declaring copper a strategic mineral, with strict regulations tied to its extraction and trade.
The suspension has left many miners in the area uncertain about their future, adding to the existing tensions.
Calls for Dialogue and a Peaceful Resolution
With mining activities on hold and the region still reeling from the violence, leaders are now calling for calm.
Nyatike Parliamentary aspirant Shadrack Anyuo called the incident “unfortunate” and called for peace and unity among the region’s leaders.
Speaking to the press in Migori town, Anyuo said, “Leaders in Migori and especially Nyatike should push through a dialogue and peace process.
The Macalder copper mines feed families, and normalcy should be restored.”
He,Anyuo, urged stakeholders to engage in peaceful dialogue to resolve the numerous issues that have plagued the Nyatike mining sector.
“Mining is a major lifeline of Nyatike. We need to ensure our egos as leaders do not leave an entire sector in chaos,” he stressed.
Governor Ayacko, meanwhile, has promised to visit the old Macalder mines in the coming week, hinting at reforms in the sector.
However, Okwanyo remains a key player in this saga, not just as an MCA but as a director of Macalder Copper Hills Sacco.
He is determined to protect artisanal miners’ rights, despite accusations from an investor that he had received Ksh5 million from a rival party to replace them.
While the chaos has subsided for now, the underlying issues in Nyatike’s mining sector remain unresolved.
With political leaders on opposite sides and miners caught in the middle, the future of copper and gold mining in the region is still hanging in the balance.
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