The incident happened on Monday, February 10, after the miners entered the underground shaft without safety gear.
According to reports, five miners arrived at the site around 11 a.m. to explore the abandoned mine, which had been left untouched for three years.
Without informing the owner, four of them descended into the shaft using a rope, while the fifth miner stayed at the entrance.
Shortly after, the fifth miner noticed the rope had stopped moving and called out to his colleagues, but there was no response.
Sensing danger, he quickly alerted nearby residents, who rushed to the scene.
Unfortunately, by the time help arrived, all four miners had suffocated to death due to lack of oxygen inside the mine.
Homa Bay County Police Commander Hassan Barua confirmed the deaths, stating that the victims died within minutes of entering the mine.
He urged miners to take safety precautions before engaging in such risky activities.
“It is important for people to follow safety measures and seek professional advice before entering any mining site, especially abandoned ones,” Barua said.
Kowidi Location Chief Lucas Juma also condemned the unsafe mining practices in the region.
He warned residents against illegal mining activities and emphasized the importance of using proper safety equipment.
This tragedy comes just days after another mining disaster in Kakamega County.
On February 3, at least 22 miners were trapped inside a goldmine in Shinyalu after it collapsed. Nineteen of them were rescued, but several others were feared dead.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale criticized mining companies for failing to follow safety regulations.
He claimed that some investors were smuggling gold worth billions while ignoring the risks faced by local miners.
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