Detectives are investigating an incident in which a 59-year-old Chinese national died after reportedly losing consciousness and falling inside a gold mine pit in Rarieda, Siaya County.
Jiang Minqiao was working at a gold mining site in Lumba Village, South Ramba Sub-Location, North Asembo Location, when the incident occurred early Wednesday.
According to police, Jiang and another Chinese national had reported for duty at the gold mine at about 10 pm on Tuesday.
At around 1.39 am on Wednesday, the two were ascending from a mine pit measuring approximately 147 feet deep when Jiang reportedly lost consciousness and fell.
Police said the incident occurred when the two were about two metres from the ground. Jiang sustained serious injuries to his head, hands and both legs and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The scene was processed and documented as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death continued.
Jiang’s body was transferred to the Aga Khan Hospital mortuary in Kisumu pending a postmortem examination.
Similar deaths have been reported at gold mining sites, amid efforts to improve safety at the facilities.
Officials say safety concerns at some sites continue to expose workers to risks.
The concerns have been linked to deaths and injuries involving workers, with officials saying campaigns are under way to address the situation.
Meanwhile, police in Ugunja, Siaya County, launched investigations after the body of a 36-year-old casual worker was found along a road in Got Osimbo village.
The deceased, identified as Kennedy Odhiambo Obonyo, was found on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, along the Got Osimbo–Bar Atheng road.
Police who visited the scene found Obonyo’s body on the road with multiple fresh cuts to the head, which investigators believe may have been caused by a sharp object.
The circumstances surrounding his death had not been established, police said on Thursday.
Officers processed the scene for evidence before the body was moved to the Ambira Level IV Hospital mortuary in Ugunja, where it is being preserved pending a postmortem examination.
Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death and seeking to establish the events leading to Obonyo’s death and identify those who may have been involved.
