KAKAMEGA, Western Kenya (CU)_Artisanal miners in Western Kenya are often finding it difficult to keep their heads above water as they continue to be exploited by middlemen in the small-scale gold prospecting business. According to officials, there are about 8,000 miners in the region, of which a majority work in the informal sector and therefore, the allure of quick money compel them to sell a gram of gold for as low as Sh4, 700 to middlemen. They in turn sell them to actual buyers inflated prices. Therefore, the upcoming Ikolomani Gold Refinery, which is set to be launched by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in the county of Kakamega, will be a game changer for such small-scale miners who could deliver their gold directly to the refinery.
The cost of the project is estimated at…
