Lolgorian miners have searched for gold for years yet poverty stalks them

Kenya: One would expect signs of opulence when traversing the villages and trading centres on the way to the gold mines of Nyatikile, deep inside Kilgoris. But there is hardly any sign among locals that the precious commodity is mined in this part of Trans Mara in Narok County. Modest dwellings and dilapidated homes flash past as one drives along the rough, dusty, earth feeder roads. Gold mining in Lolgorian dates back to the period when white settlers lived in the area, long before Kenya attained her independence. The hopeless situation is mainly blamed on the fact that most of the miners are ill equipped to fully exploit the mineral. During a visit to the mines, The Standard on Sunday found a group of youth covered in white dust, busy chipping away from rocks and grinding them into a fine powder. Harmful fumes and collapsing mines are some of the risks that small-scale gold miners in Lolgorian expose themselves to in their search for the precious gold. Janet Jemutai told The Standard on Sunday that she has worked in the mines for one year, washing crushed rock powder in search for gold metal.