Senator Osotsi calls for calm after deadly clashes over gold mining in Ikolomani
By Enock Amukhale, December 5, 2025Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Deputy Party leader Godfrey Osotsi has asked Kakamega, Vihiga, and Siaya residents to remain calm as their leaders fight to streamline their dispute between them and Shanta Gold mining.
Speaking in Luanda on Friday, December 5, 2025, the Vihiga Senator said he is hopeful a lasting solution will be found between residents and the Shanta Gold mining company.
” I am appealing to our people of Kakamega, Vihiga and Siaya to remain playful as leaders try to solve their disputes with the Shanta Gold mining company,” Osotsi said.
Osotsi said that already, senators from the Western region have come up with a bill that is aimed at streamlining the Shanta Gold mining company activities in the area, even as members of the public continue to raise complaints.
The legislator said the bill will compel Shanta Gold to operate within the law in its gold mining activities.
“The Senators from the Western region have come up with a Bill that will help check on the operation of gold mining in the area by one Stanta Gold mining company. We want Shanta Gold to operate within the law. We do not want to see our people being killed, arrested arbitrarily, and their lands taken without compensation,” he explained.
He said they welcome development in the area being brought by Gold mining, but the process must be done within the parameters of the law.
Osotsi said he wants people whose lands have been discovered to have Gold deposits to be well compensated.
Legal actions
He also asked the company not to frustrate the residents by forcing them to vacate their lands and arresting them arbitrarily.
” We have been told that Gold deposits worth billions of shillings have been discovered in the parts of Kakamega, Vihiga and Siaya. We want our people whose plots have Gold deposits to be well compensated. We do want to see forceful evictions and arrests,” Osotsi warned.
Osotsi also asked the company to initiate development in the area to benefit residents.
He said he wants to see good road networks, supply of clean tap water, building of schools, hospitals, among other social amenities, put up through the proceeds from Gold mining.
Kakamega and Vihiga have witnessed a wave of protests from the locals against the operation of the Shanta Gold company on their plots.
In Ramula Luanda sub-county, Vihiga County police have been engaging the residents in running battles while protesting against mining in the area.
The residents want Shanta Gold to engage them directly to determine compensation for their lands.