But the uncovering of larger quantities at the beginning of August is what caught the attention of many people. Kiarie reckons as rumours 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.
On what should be a busy morning at Kaliluni Primary School in southern Kenya, only cows attend, grazing between broken classroom doors that open to reveal rows of empty chairs. Three years ago, more than 200 children filled this rural school with noise and activity. Now there are only five students and on the day