‘Your lives are invaluable’ – Mudavadi urges miners to prioritize safety after 12 get trapped in Shinyalu gold mine

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi has urged miners to always prioritize safety and exercise utmost caution while carrying out their operations.
Taking to his official X account on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, Mudavadi stated that the lives of the miners are invaluable, and no measure is too great when it comes to ensuring their well-being.
His statement comes after a gold mine collapsed in Shinyalu, Kakamega County, trapping 12 miners.
Mudavadi’s call to recue teams
Mudavadi went ahead to call upon the rescue teams to exhaust every possible effort to bring those still underground to safety.
“The news of at least 12 miners trapped in a gold mine in Shinyalu, Kakamega, is deeply distressing. I call upon the rescue teams to exhaust every possible effort to bring those still underground to safety.
“While it’s a relief to hear that eight miners have been successfully rescued, my thoughts remain with those still in danger and their families. To all miners, I urge you to prioritize safety and exercise utmost caution in your operations. Your lives are invaluable, and no measure is too great when it comes to ensuring your well-being,” Mudavadi stated.

The news of at least 12 miners trapped in a gold mine in Shinyalu, Kakamega is deeply distressing. I call upon the rescue teams to exhaust every possible effort to bring those still underground to safety.
— Musalia W Mudavadi (@MusaliaMudavadi) February 4, 2025
While it’s a relief to hear that eight miners have been successfully…
Rescue operation
According to the Kenya Red Cross, the excavation site in Shinyalu collapsed on Monday, February 3, 2025.
In a statement on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, the Kenya Red Cross disclosed that the 12 who were trapped in the collapsed site had been rescued following the search operation by a multi-agency team, including the Kenya Red Cross and county disaster teams.

The Red Cross had earlier revealed that seven people were rescued on Monday night and are in good health.
“Update as of 09:42 am: 12 people have been rescued. A multi-agency team, including the Kenya Red Cross, @EMS_Kenya, the County Disaster Team, local community members, and the Kenya Police, is on the ground leading rescue operations.
“Update: Seven more people have been rescued and are in good health. Our teams remain on the ground, continuing search and rescue efforts,” the Kenya Red Cross stated.
The incident occurred shortly before 7 p.m. on Monday.