By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 22 November 2025 - A coordinated effort by senators from Western Kenya to regulate gold-mining operations has opened a new front in the escalating tensions between residents and Shanta Gold, the company exploring deposits in Kakamega and Vihiga counties.
Spearheaded by Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, the legislative initiative reflects growing public pressure and mounting complaints about alleged mistreatment, inadequate compensation, and forceful evictions linked to mining activities in the region.
Speaking in Luanda, Senator Osotsi said the forthcoming Bill seeks to compel Shanta Gold to operate fully within Kenyan law and adhere to transparent, fair, and accountable mining practices.
While acknowledging the economic potential that gold extraction could bring, he argued that development must not come at the expense of local communities.
The senator emphasised that residents’ rights — particularly those whose land sits on confirmed gold deposits — must be clearly protected.
The proposed legislation comes in the midst of grievances that have been simmering for months.
Communities in parts of Kakamega and Vihiga have staged repeated protests, accusing the mining company of intimidating landowners, pushing people off their property, and relying on brokers to determine compensation rather than engaging families directly.
Clashes between residents and police have become commonplace, particularly in areas such as Ramula in Luanda sub-county, where demonstrations have frequently resulted in confrontations and arrests.
In his remarks, Mr Osotsi warned that reports of gold deposits valued in the billions heighten the need for a legal framework that ensures equitable benefit-sharing.
He insisted that compensation must be fair and conducted transparently, and rejected any use of coercion or arbitrary arrests to remove residents from their land.
According to him, the region’s people should not suffer dispossession precisely at the moment when their land gains newfound value.
Beyond compensation, the senators’ initiative seeks to tie mining operations to tangible local development.
Osotsi outlined expectations that proceeds from the gold industry should help build social amenities — better roads, clean water systems, schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure — in communities directly affected by extraction.
His stance reflects a broader view that natural-resource exploitation must translate into local uplift, not merely corporate profit or national revenue.
The tensions in Western Kenya have drawn political leaders into the fray.
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Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has been vocal in supporting residents of Ikolomani, where Shanta Gold operates some of its key sites.
He has joined demonstrations and amplified complaints about alleged exploitation, inadequate compensation, and disregard for community concerns.
The growing involvement of regional leaders suggests that the mining disputes are shifting from localised grievances to a wider political issue that could reshape the region’s economic expectations — and its political dynamics.
The national government, aware of the mounting pressure, has also begun to respond.
A recent visit by the government spokesperson to mining sites in Kakamega signalled recognition of the heightened tensions.
During the tour, assurances were given that compensation would be handled properly, though residents remain sceptical, citing past instances in which promises were made but not delivered.
The unfolding debate captures a broader national dilemma: how to balance resource extraction with community rights, environmental protection, and equitable development.
Gold mining in Western Kenya represents a potentially transformative economic opportunity, yet the disputes surrounding Shanta Gold illustrate the risks of proceeding without clear guidelines, transparent land-acquisition processes, and safeguards against abuse.
The senators’ Bill, once formally tabled, is likely to intensify scrutiny of mining operations and may set a precedent for how Kenya handles similar projects in other regions.
It also underscores a shift towards more assertive regional leadership, with Western lawmakers insisting that natural resources found within their counties must generate measurable benefits for local populations.
As the legislative process unfolds, the success of the initiative will depend on whether it can bridge the gap between community expectations, corporate interests, and national regulatory standards.
For residents who have faced arrests, displacement threats, or opaque compensation processes, the Bill represents a potential turning point.
For Shanta Gold and other mining investors, it signals a new era of oversight and accountability in a sector long plagued by conflict, secrecy, and inequitable outcomes.
