Manasse Lomachar would like the discovery of gold to improve life in his village

🌐 Here's What Happened

A goat herder from a remote area of western Kenya has told the BBC his discovery of a golden nugget has sparked a gold rush, overwhelming his small village over the last few weeks.

When people found out that 33-year-old Manasse Lomachar had sold his three grams of gold for 36,000 Kenyan shillings ($280; £205) several weeks ago, he believes this led to thousands of prospectors arrived in Cheporor.

And it is true that what last month was just bushland and rough grazing ground near the village is now scarred by pits, mounds of earth and makeshift mining camps.

📌 Key Details

It is not clear if was Lomachar's lucky find or other recent discoveries that sparked the excitement. But local authorities estimate that about 10,000 people arrived at the height of the rush.

Even a small amount of the precious metal can transform the futures of these men and women - from Kenya and neighbouring Uganda - many of whose precarious lives rest on an unreliable farming income.

Large numbers of people have been searching through the earth and rocks for any sign of the precious metal

People do sometimes pan for gold in these parts - but rarely find anything significant.

Lomachar's says his discovery came about purely by chance. While he was searching for a missing goat he encountered a group of women panning along a riverbed.

"I joined them, and that's how [the village] realised there was gold in this area," he says.

📰 Source: BBC Africa