Joshua Oduor 
Residents of Isulu-Bushiangala Village in Ikolomani Constituency have refused a proposition of eviction to pave way for the setup of Shanta Gold Company’s mining operations. In a public baraza on mining organized by the area Deputy County Commissioner at Shibuname Water Project at Isulu, Ikolomani on Friday September 22nd, 2023. Issues of local employment and involvement of the public as required by the 2016 Mining Act of Kenya and the numerous mining regulations of the County of Kakamega were greatly outcried.
“In 2020, the village of Isulu-Bushiangala was identified as a potential gold mining center by Shanta Gold Company. Since that time, people living in this village have had to contend with the fears of being violently from their ancestral lands,” claimed an online petition published on change.org by Bonface Beti.
“The impending eviction reports became most pronounced recently with threats of government removing people from their legally inherited lands becoming most acute,” the petition continued.
Area Member of County Assembly, Hon. Archeadious Likhako Liyayi has supported his residents’ call to shut down the company’s Operations. He also stated that he was elected to put the interest of the people of Idakho Central First.
His National Assembly Counterpart, Hon. Bernard Masaka Shinali, representative for Ikolomani Constituency has refuted the company’s idea of mining in Ikolomani and refining in Ramula and has insisted on everything to be done in Ikolomani.
“From today your activities of Stealing suspend them! Bring the owners of Shanta to the ground, we demand for respect and structures of engagement from your Company!” the Ikolomani Representative concluded.
The Baraza was attended by various gold mine stakeholders including the Kakamega Gold Mining Cooperative Chair, Mr. Patrick Ligami, representatives from both the County and National governments in the region and representatives from the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA).
