BY EMMANUEL KIPRUTO
The Kapsenda and Jagoror quarries in Kericho County, Kipkelion East Constituency, remain some of the most active mining sites in the region, supporting hundreds of local workers and contributing significantly to the county’s revenue. Every day, trucks transport building materials from these quarries, and county officials regularly collect levies and other forms of revenue from the ongoing mining activities. This highlights the economic importance of the sites not only to the local community but also to the county government.
However, despite the high level of activity and the consistent revenue collection, the communities working in and around the quarries are not receiving the essential services they deserve. One of the major concerns is the lack of proper sanitation facilities. To date, no standard toilets have been constructed, are missing despite the heavy movement of workers, transporters, and traders at the sites exposing them to unhealthy and unsafe conditions.
Another critical issue is the absence of reliable health support. Injuries are common in quarry environments due to the nature of the work, yet there are no accessible health services or first-aid stations to attend to the injured promptly. This gap puts workers’ lives at risk and increases the severity of injuries that could otherwise be managed quickly.
Road maintenance is also a pressing concern. The roads leading to the quarries are in poor condition despite their heavy use by county licensed trucks and transporters. Damaged roads slow transportation, cause frequent vehicle breakdowns, and limit accessibility during rainy seasons. This directly affects the livelihoods of miners, transporters, and suppliers who rely on efficient routes.
The situation presents a major contradiction: while the county government benefits from the quarries through revenue collection, basic services that should naturally accompany such economic activity are not being provided. Community members have expressed disappointment and frustration, urging the county administration to prioritize infrastructure, health services, and sanitation. They insist that a fair balance should exist between revenue collection and service delivery.
The people of Kipkelion East especially miners in these quarries and the local community are now demanding accountability from the Kericho County Government. They argue that if the government can consistently collect revenue from the quarries, it should equally commit to providing essential services, including sanitation, health support, and proper road maintenance. They are calling for greater transparency on how quarry revenue is used and for meaningful action that reflects the needs of the community. The Kapsenda and Jagoror quarries continue to play a major role in the economic development of the county, but without reinvestment in community welfare, frustration and inequality will persist. The residents are simply seeking fairness and a commitment from the government to address these long-standing concerns.
