Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomurukai Raises Alarm Over Alleged Illegal Gold Mining by State Officials

By: GOLD MINERS CLUB DATE: 05-11-2026

Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomurukai has accused state officials of facilitating illegal gold mining in the county. He has called for the immediate suspension of all gold mining operations in Turkana. The claim, reported on 4 November 2026, adds to a growing dispute over who controls Kenya’s most contested gold-bearing region. theonlinekenyan

What the governor is alleging

The reports available so far give the broad outline of the allegation but few specifics. I could not find the names of the officials involved, the sites concerned or any evidence offered. No response from the national government appears in the coverage I found. Readers should treat the claims as allegations until they are tested.

A pattern of earlier warnings

This is not the first time the governor has raised the issue. Weeks earlier, he said powerful individuals were allegedly taking over gold-mining activities at Kalomwae and Nariomoru, taking advantage of the ongoing disarmament operation. He also said he would mobilise communities to withdraw their consent from gold miners. nation

Other local leaders have made similar claims. In September, a Turkana MCA alleged that a secret deal was being arranged to dispose of the mineral-rich Lomeguro site without the consent of locals, leaders and the County Assembly. Another leader alleged that local miners were being pushed out of Kalomwae, which he said was being occupied by companies linked to senior national government officials. nationnation

Who licenses mining in Turkana?

A central point in the dispute is that the county does not issue mining licences. The county’s Natural Resources executive told the County Assembly that licensing of mineral extraction is primarily handled by the national government under the Mining Act. The county’s role is mainly community engagement. So a claim that state officials are enabling illegal operations points at national institutions, not the county. nation

Licensing is already in legal dispute. Rival companies are fighting in court over gold exploration rights in Turkana, and Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho is named in the case. No final ruling had been reported at the time of that coverage. riotimesonline

Safety, environment and lost revenue

The human and environmental costs are significant. On 12 October 2026, the government suspended all gold mining in Lomeguro after a mine collapse left one woman dead and two others trapped underground. Earlier, a collapsed pit along the Turkwel River raised the death toll of artisanal miners in the area to 12. In 2025, NEMA shut more than 200 illegal gold sites along the Turkwel River because they lacked environmental licences. Turkana: Government bans gold mining in Lomeguro after deadly mine collapse – People Daily +2

The state is losing money too. One estimate puts royalty losses at about KSh1.2 billion a year. A government survey cited in earlier coverage also found a gap between Turkana’s mineral wealth and what local communities actually receive. It attributed this to widespread illegal mining, which has led to financial exploitation and environmental degradation. riotimesonlineeastleighvoice

Politics ahead of 2027

The allegations come as politics heats up ahead of the 2027 elections. The governor has pledged to work with national authorities on mining in the past, and in May 2024 he promised to work closely with the national government and investors to promote mining and the blue economy. His latest remarks mark a sharper tone. They also land amid wider political friction in the county, so observers will likely read them with that context in mind. the-star

What to watch

• Whether the governor names officials or sites, or submits evidence to investigators.
• Whether the Ministry of Mining or the Interior Ministry responds.
• The outcome of the court case over exploration licences.
• Whether the call for a county-wide suspension leads to any formal action.

News references

1. The Online Kenyan, “Jeremiah Lomurukai Alleges State Officials Facilitate Illegal Gold Mining in Turkana,” 4 Nov 2026: https://www.theonlinekenyan.com/daily/2026-11-04/turkana-governor-raises-alarm-over-illegal-gold-mining-by-state-officials
2. Nation Africa, “They surrendered their guns. Now bandits are hunting them down”: https://nation.africa/kenya/counties/turkana/they-surrendered-their-guns-now-bandits-are-hunting-them-down-5581870
3. Nation Africa, “Turkana gold rush exposes fight over mining licences”: https://nation.africa/kenya/counties/turkana/turkana-gold-rush-exposes-fight-mining-licences-5616148
4. People Daily, “Turkana: Government bans gold mining in Lomeguro after deadly mine collapse,” 12 Oct 2026: https://peopledaily.digital/news/turkana-government-bans-gold-mining-in-lomeguro-after-deadly-mine-collapse
5. Rio Times, “Kenya Plans Raw Gold Export Ban Amid Turkana Fight”: https://www.riotimesonline.com/turkana-gold-rush-mining-licence-fight-2026/
6. Eastleigh Voice, “Turkana County suspends gold mining site near school after public outcry”: https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/gold kenya/82821/turkana-county-suspends-gold-mining-site-near-school-after-public-outcry
7. The Star, “State revokes licences of 67 mining companies in Turkana,” 29 May 2024: https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2024-05-29-state-revokes-licences-of-67-mining-companies-in-turkana
8. The Standard, Bakari Ang’ela author page (coverage of the Turkwel mine collapse): https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/author/Bakari-Ang’ela