This archive report was first published on 6 August 2020.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to disrupt lives, women in West Pokot County are turning to gold mining as a means of survival. In Lokitonyala, a small village along the River Muruny, women and children can be seen prospecting for gold, often under harsh conditions.
According to local authorities, the majority of miners in the area are women, who are traditionally entrusted with ensuring the family is well-fed. The men, on the other hand, take care of the livestock. This cultural divide has led to a situation where children, particularly girls, are accompanying their mothers to the gold search, while boys assist their fathers in grazing livestock.
Thirteen-year-old Cheptoo Lotudo, who survived a mining accident two weeks ago, shared her experience of searching for gold since she was eight years old. "We come here very early in the morning and we work all day. When we leave this place my joints ache, and I am exhausted," she said.
Despite the risks, many children are subjected to child labor, with some school-going children spending most of their days in the pits and beside River Muruny prospecting for gold. Local authorities have warned parents who allow their children to engage in gold mining, with the County Commissioner, Apollo Okello, stating that it is illegal for minors to participate in gold-mining.
However, many parents see gold mining as a means of survival, with some mothers like Mary Merereng, 36, saying they have to work hard to fend for their families. "We are the sole breadwinners, we have to engage in gold mining to even feed our men," she said.
Despite the challenges, the women and children of Lokitonyala remain determined to search for gold, often in the face of exploitation by brokers who sell their gold at throwaway prices. As one miner, Florence Natapar, put it, "We need better prices for gold. The rains favour our gold-searching activities because the ground is soft and the water helps us see the gold clearly."
However, the negative impact of mining on the women and children is a concern, with the area chief, Peter Lokoirereng, warning of the dangers of child labor and exploitation.
