Was it sparked by the discovery of a $200 nugget by a goat herder?

A Discovery That Drew a Crowd

In the dry hills of West Pokot County, Kenya, hundreds of people work side by side, hacking into the rocky ground with hoes and shovels. Others carry the earth to a nearby seasonal river, where mostly women crouch in the murky water, washing and sifting mud and sand hoping to detect a tiny trace of gold. The scene is the result of a gold rush that, at its height, drew an estimated 10,000 people, according to local authorities.

Among the hopeful is Manasse Lomachar, a 33-year-old goat herder whose good fortune has become part of the site's lore. Lomachar sold three grams of gold for 36,000 Kenyan shillings ($280; £215), and his story is now one of those that keeps hope alive for others at the site.

How the Rush Started

Deputy Commissioner Samuel Kiarie of West Pokot County says he thinks the rush began after two notable discoveries. "Young men found what appeared to be a substantial amount of gold. The following day, women made another significant find in the same area," he told the BBC.

Kiarie explains that women have been finding small quantities of alluvial gold along the same seasonal riverbed for years, typically earning $8-$23 a week. But it was the uncovering of larger quantities at the beginning of August that really caught the attention of many people. Kiarie also admits that as rumors spread, the number and size of the discoveries were exaggerated, drawing in ever larger groups of people with little or no mining experience who hoped to replicate the reported early successes.

Since the initial rush, the number of prospectors has dropped to around 2,500, as some have given up the search.

A Diverse Crowd

West Pokot County borders Uganda, and communities on both sides have long-standing social and family ties, so it is not surprising that many of the prospectors are from across the border. Mugisha Godfrey, an artisanal miner from Busia in eastern Uganda, traveled to Cheporor after hearing about the discovery from a friend, spending about 100,000 Ugandan shillings ($27) for the journey. Godfrey sleeps under near the riverbed and works day and night, but so far has found nothing. "We can't return unless we find something. Only when we have found what we need can we go back home," he says.

Patrick Lokolia, from neighbouring Napawoi village, joined the gold rush hoping to earn some extra money to support his family.

The once-quiet site has become a small commercial hub. More than 200 businesses have emerged around the area selling food, water and other essentials. Irene Ameja from Baringo county sells water, soft drinks, bread and foodstuffs. She notes, however, the lack of clean water for drinking or bathing, and safety concerns for women at night.

Concerns and Official Measures

As the site grows, authorities are grappling with a range of challenges. Public health officials have been deployed to monitor conditions and prevent disease outbreaks. Security patrols have been increased amid concerns over sexual violence and the vulnerability of women and girls at the site.

Officials also worry about the welfare of children, who may be drawn into mining activity as schools prepare to reopen in September. The lure of quick money could be strong, especially for families struggling to meet school fees.

Uncertain Outlook

While there is little doubt that some gold has been found in the area, questions remain about the size of the deposit and its commercial potential. Several truckloads of the material have been transported to nearby Ortum town for processing, with authorities awaiting the results to determine whether the finds are actually gold, according to the deputy commissioner. The local authorities also note that the small-scale gold traders reported they received an average of about 100 people every day, though the authenticity of the finds is still being verified.

Individual discoveries reported so reportedly range from amounts worth a few hundred shillings to one find valued at approximately 78,000 shillings ($600).

As for the man whose lucky find helped spark the rush, Lomachar would like to see more organized mining that uses modern tools. - says he wants the government to help local miners establish safer and more effective ways of finding and extracting gold, such as metal detectors. But until that happens, the makeshift, risky search continues, drawing people from both sides of the border.