Siaya County, Kenya – Female members of the Siaya County Assembly have sounded the alarm over what they described as systemic sexual harassment and exploitation of women in artisanal gold mining areas.
Led by South East Alego Ward MCA Scolastica Madowo, the women’s caucus highlighted disturbing reports of widows and single mothers being coerced into sexual relationships by men who control access to mining shafts and gold-bearing stones.
Exploitation Rooted in Poverty and Power Imbalances
The legislators noted that in some mining areas, women are denied work unless they submit to sexual demands. They condemned the normalization of such exploitation under the guise of culture or poverty, insisting that these abuses must be recognized as gender-based violence.
“This is not just a women’s issue it is a human rights crisis,” the caucus declared.
Calls for County and National Action
The women leaders urged the Siaya County Government to:
- Acknowledge the crisis.
- Establish gender protection frameworks.
- Provide survivor-centred reporting and support services.
At the national level, they called for stronger regulation of artisanal mining, enforcement of sexual offences laws, and integration of women’s safety into mining policies.
Accountability and Law Enforcement
Law enforcement agencies were challenged to act swiftly on reports of abuse, hold perpetrators accountable regardless of influence, and increase patrols in mining hotspots.
The MCAs emphasized that exploitation in mining communities is a systemic issue, driven by poverty, power imbalances, and state neglect. They pledged to use legislative and advocacy tools to expose abuse and demand accountability.
Conclusion
The Siaya women leaders’ stand highlights the urgent need for gender-sensitive reforms in Kenya’s artisanal mining sector. By framing the exploitation of women as a human rights crisis, they have placed pressure on both county and national authorities to act decisively in protecting vulnerable communities.
