A section of the residents from Ikolomani in Kakamega County have warned Senator Edwin Sifuna from Nairobi and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi against what they consider interference in the ongoing gold dispute case between Ikolomani. According to the residents, the two senators have interests beyond the community.
While speaking during a media interview on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, the locals expressed that the issue should be left in the hands of the locals, with outsiders leaving the matter to the people of Kakamega County.
A resident openly challenged the two senators, indicating Ikolomani citizens were in a position to resolve the issues pertaining to gold mining on their own.
‘Mr Senator for Vihiga Osotsi, please allow the residents of Ikolomani to address the issues of Ikolomani; this applies to the senator for Nairobi too, Mr Edwin Sifuna. We would like to request that those who are not from Kakamega to also step aside concerning this matter.’
These statements came days after senators Sifuna and Osotsi had a meeting with elders from the western region on December 11, 2025; the meeting involved discussions of gold mines in Ikolomani. In the photos from the meeting, Sifuna had attended the meeting with elders from the Luhya Council of Elders.
However, they question the renewed engagement with the elders, with the community blaming them for failing to act when the region faced previous challenges associated with the economy.
“The Webuye Pan Paper company went under, and the elders never acted. Now they have popped up again since they wanted to extort money from the gold mining project,” said one resident.
The now appeal a request that Cabinet Secretary Musalia Musavadi personally gets involved in order for this issue to be resolved through dialogue with them and not outside influences.
“Mudavadi, come to Ikolomani and sit down with the residents. Stop leaving this issue to other people. Come and help the Luhyas,” a resident said.
There have been tensions relating to the mining of gold in Ikolomani for several months now, especially after the rejection by the locals of the proposed transfer of the land to Shanta Gold, a company from Britain. This project is estimated to displace more than 800 families.
For many years, artisanal gold mining has remained the primary source of livelihood for people of Ikolomani. Today, many people from this area fear that large mining will leave them unemployed and marginalised.
The local residents and leaders have also accused the government and the mining firm of carrying out poor and secretive public participation, especially in the process concerning the Environmental Impact Assessment.
According to the Mining Act, the community gets 10 per cent royalty payments for mines, with the national government getting 70 per cent and the county governments receiving 20 per cent of the money.
However, the community of Ikolomani is not convinced that the revenue-sharing formula will ensure that the community gets direct benefits considering the danger they might encounter through the mine.