His remarks come amid mounting tensions in Kakamega County, where small-scale miners have clashed violently with authorities over displacement and insufficient compensation tied to proposed large-scale mining projects.
Speaking on Thursday, December 11, Gachagua described gold as a “God-given resource” capable of transforming the livelihoods of residents if properly managed.
He warned locals against allowing foreign firms or a few individuals to monopolize the mineral, arguing that the people of Western Kenya should be the first beneficiaries.
“Kakamega, do not allow your gold to be sold by just four people. Across Western Kenya, there is a lot of gold underground. If preserved, it can help reduce poverty in the region. I will be asking the people to resist the theft of their gold until we form the government, so we can negotiate fair terms,” Gachagua stated.
The former DP’s intervention follows a surge of violent confrontations between small-scale miners and law enforcement in Kakamega. In Ikolomani, three people recently died amid protests over proposed displacements and inadequate compensation.
Artisanal miners, who rely on gold for their livelihoods, fear being sidelined by foreign-led operations, especially after British firm Shanta Gold Kenya Limited submitted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) for approval to develop a massive underground gold mine and processing center in the Isulu-Bushiangala area.
The Kenya Chamber of Mines (KCM) has called for due process, impartiality, and the protection of both investors and artisanal miners.
Gachagua also addressed broader political dynamics in the Mt Kenya region following UDA’s victory in the Mbeere North by-election. The former DP dismissed celebrations in Ruto’s camp, claiming the mini-poll was skewed by heavy spending, intimidation, and misuse of public resources.
He emphasized that historical voting patterns in Mbeere North and South often diverge from parliamentary contests but align on presidential ballots, cautioning that the by-election outcome does not reflect his influence in the region.
He criticized the ruling party for deploying cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries, parastatal heads, and what he described as hired goons to manipulate the vote.
“Yes, they defeated us in bribery and intimidation, but I, Rigathi Gachagua, can never mobilize goons to beat my own kinsmen. This was a state-driven operation, not a reflection of true voter sentiment,” he said.
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