Last year, Kenya’s revenues from gold mining were Ksh3.4 billion, a record nine-year high.
Artisanal gold mining in the country employs over 250 000 people and supports the livelihoods of 800 000 others.
WoK takes a look at places where Gold is mined in Kenya:
Kakamega
The Kakamega-Busia gold belt is estimated to have gold deposits worth at least Sh200 billion.
In recent years, there have been a number of major gold discoveries in the county, run by mining companies like Shanta Gold, Acacia Mining, and Goldplat.
Some of the most important gold mining areas in Kakamega include Ikolomani and Shinyalu sub-counties.
In 2022, Shanta Gold mining company announced that it had found deposits of the precious metal in Kakamega worth at least 1.6 million.
Migori
The Migori Gold Belt is a 63-kilometer-long region that covers five sub-counties in Migori County: Suna West, Nyatike, Rongo, Kuria West, and Kuria East.
The belt is home to several gold mines, both large-scale and artisanal. Gold mining in Migori County has been going on for centuries.
The first recorded gold rush in the area occurred in the 1920s. Since then, gold mining has been a major economic activity in Migori County.
The most recent discovery happened earlier this month when contractors were digging a section of the Isebania- Kisii highway.
Residents spotted deposits of the shiny metal among the rocks that were used in the construction of the highway.
Narok
The main gold mine in Narok is the Kilimapesa Gold Mine, located in the Kilimapesa Hills.
The mine is owned by Caracal Gold PLC, a UK-based company. The mine has been in operation since 2009, and it is currently the largest gold mine in Kenya.
When the mine was put under maintenance in 2019, halting mining operations, the country’s gold exports dropped from 473 kilograms in 2018 to 291.5 kgs in 2019.
In addition to the Kilimapesa Gold Mine, there are a number of smaller gold mines in Narok County. These mines are mostly artisanal mines, which are operated by small-scale miners.
The artisanal mines are not as efficient as large-scale mines, but they play an important role in the local economy.
Kericho
The main gold mining area in Kericho is Kenene village in Bureti Sub-County. The mine is located on a piece of land measuring approximately three acres and has been in operation for the last ten years.
The mine is estimated to have about 100,000 ounces of Gold. It has employed over 200 workers.
In addition to Kenene village, there are reports of gold mining activities in other parts of Kericho, such as Chepseon, Kapkatet, and Sotik. However, these activities are primarily artisanal and small-scale.
The gold mining in Kericho is thought to have started in the early 1900s when European settlers discovered gold deposits in the area.
However, mining activities were halted during the Mau Mau uprising in the 1950s.
Mining resumed in the 1970s, but it was not until 2013 that gold mining in Kericho became a significant economic activity.
The most recently discovered gold mine is dubbed kwa shimo by locals. It was discovered in 2020 by a farmer who was digging a pit latrine. It has employed over 30 people.
Nandi
Nandi County is home to the gold-rich Karebe Gold Mine. The area is located in the Chemase sub-county, about 20 kilometers from the town of Kapsabet.
The mine made headlines earlier this year when three workers died due to a premature blast caused by illegal miners.
There are also several gold mining companies operating in Kibisem area, including Karebe Gold Mining Company, Calvaire Gold Mining Ltd, and Ka Nandi Ezekiel.
These companies use various methods to extract the Gold, including open pit mining, underground mining, and artisanal mining.
Marsabit
The 5000-acre Marsabit gold belt is located in Dabel location, Moyale sub-county.
A report by the Daily Nation revealed the existence of more than 1000 mines in the area, with a gram of Gold fetching over sh 7300 depending on its purity.
However, much of the mining is illegal, with the Gold being smuggled into Ethiopia. Operations there are run by self-centered politicians and security apparatus.
The area is home to at least 30 000 miners. It has attracted miners from Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, and Somalia.
Busia
The Busia-Kakamega Greenstone Belt is a geological formation stretching across parts of Kenya and Uganda.
The main gold mining areas in Busia County are Bumutiru, Butula, and Tiira. These areas have been mined for Gold for centuries, and reports say there is still a significant amount of Gold left to be extracted.
Gold mining in Busia is largely artisanal, with small-scale miners using rudimentary methods to extract the Gold.
The artisanal gold miners in Busia are organized into several associations, including the Busia Small Scale Miners Association and the Tiira Small Scale Miners Association.
However, there are a number of large-scale mining companies that are also active in the area. The main gold mining companies in Busia County are Base Resources, Goldplat, and African Barrick Gold.
These companies are using more sophisticated methods to extract the Gold, and they are producing much higher yields than the artisanal miners.
