One of the 18 cows which died on January 27, 2018 after drinking
effluent from a gold processing factory in Lolgorian, Narok County. The
owner estimated the loss to be about Sh1.5 million. PHOTO | GEORGE
SAYAGIE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
A farmer in Lolgorian, Narok County is counting losses estimated
at about Sh1.5 million after his 18 cows drunk a poisonous effluent
from a gold processing factory and died.
The effluent was emanating from the Kilimapesa Goldmines in Transmara Sub-County.
According
to Joseph Tipaa, the owner of the cows, his cattle were grazing near
the gold processing plant before they consumed the dirty water in a
trench trickling from leach tanks used in the extraction of gold.
A brother of the farmer, Mr Phillip Tipaa, who spoke to Nation by phone said the cows were being looked after by an 11-year old boy before the incident happened at around 3pm Saturday.
FAMILY LIFELINE
"The
owner of the cows is my brother. He has three wives and more than 10
children. Their economic lifeline was this afternoon crippled because of
negligence by the Goldplat company that releases poisonous effluent to
the environment," said Phillip.
He
said he had reported the matter to the county National Environment
Management Authority (Nema) Director of Environment Patrick Lekenit and
County Commissioner Moffat Kangi for further action.
According to the farmer, the gold processing company buried the cows and promised to compensate the family.
Mr
Lekenit confirmed the incident and said Nema officers based in
Transmara and security officers had gone to the plant to establish what
happened.
"We have received the
information of dead cows in Lolgorian. Our officers are already on the
ground to establish what happened," said MR Lekenit.
Efforts to reach the owners of the gold processing plant were futile as calls went an answered.
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