By Erick Otieno
Health and Environmental experts have sounded alarm over serious health risks and environmental degradation as a result of the use of heavy chemicals in gold mining in Nyatike and other parts of Migori county.
They said continued exposure of the residents, livestock, and other animals to heavy metals such as mercury, and methane among others could result in widespread kidney and heart conditions and cancer outbreaks in the area.
While the experts sounded out their concern, a farmer in Nyatike was counting losses after his livestock reportedly consumed chemically contaminated water from a nearby Chinese-owned gold processing plant
The affected site belongs to H-NUO Kenya Company and is located in Kowuor village, within Macalder Kanyarwanda ward.
Efforts to reach H-NUO Kenya Company for comment were unsuccessful. One of the company’s directors, Mr. Khalaf, initially promised to respond but later became unreachable.
In a phone interview, with one of the affected farmers, Mr. Maurice Abuya Oluoch, expressed concern over the incident.
He revealed that he had lost five cows, while six others were showing symptoms of poisoning after drinking water tainted with chemicals from the company’s gold leaching activities.
Mr. Oluoch called for urgent dialogue between the local community, the government, and the investors to prevent future incidents of poisoning.
“It’s disheartening that such a major investment can’t have measures in place to address these kinds of emergencies,” he said. He also voiced his concern over the potential danger to children who regularly pass by the plant on their way to school. “One day, it might not just be the livestock. What if children are affected?”
Migori Governor Dr Ochilo Ayako said they were addressing the emerging issues to avoid such incidents reoccurring in the county.
“I have scheduled a meeting with my team to respond to the emerging issues and we will give a detailed guideline on the matter,” he said.
Medical Expert Dr. James Obondi Otieno said the use of mercury to clean the gold could result in an upsurge of kidney and heart failure in humans and livestock and other chronic diseases.
“The continuous exposure of human beings and livestock to heavy metals is a disaster. There need to have in place health safety guidelines by the county government and the investors,” he said.
Dr Otieno said during rains the chemical is washed down and this compromises the lives of all animals in the area.
Dr Otieno said the degradation of the land was compromising agricultural activities.
The poisoning has caused growing anxiety among local farmers, who fear more losses unless immediate action is taken to address the environmental and health risks posed by the mining operations. Authorities are expected to take swift measures as investigations unfold.
