A  gold miner has died while his wife was rescued following a tragic mine collapse at a gold mining site in Turkwel area, West Pokot County. 

Confirming the incident, West Pokot Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Wycliffe Munanda said the man was found dead while his wife was rescued in critical condition and rushed to hospital for treatment.

The incident occurred on Sunday January 18, 2026 in the morning when a section of a makeshift mining shaft caved in, trapping the couple who were working together deep inside the pit. 

Fellow miners and local residents rushed to the scene and began a desperate rescue mission using crude tools as they waited for help from authorities.

“It is unfortunate that we lost one miner in the incident. His wife was rescued alive and taken to hospital. We are grateful to the rescue team and members of the public who acted quickly,” said Munanda.

According to eyewitnesses, the couple had gone into the pit early in the morning in search of gold when the unstable walls of the shaft suddenly collapsed, burying them under soil and rocks.

 Local miners spent several hours digging through the rubble before reaching the trapped victims. The woman was pulled out alive but weak, while her husband was later found dead.

The incident has once again highlighted the dangerous conditions under which small-scale gold miners operate in the region. 

Most of the mining activities in Turkwel are informal and lack proper safety measures, exposing miners to frequent accidents.

Local leaders and residents have renewed calls for the government to regulate artisanal mining activities and improve safety standards to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Police have launched investigations into the incident as the body of the deceased was taken to Kapenguria County Referral Hospital mortuary and the wife was taken to Kapenguria Referral hospital.