Was it sparked by the discovery of a $200 nugget by a goat herder?
A gold discovery by a goat herder in rural Kenya has triggered a massive influx of thousands of prospectors to the village of Cheporor. Local residents hope the gold rush will provide a much-needed economic boost to help with school fees and daily living expenses.
Why it matters
The event illustrates the desperation for economic opportunity in rural areas and the potential for sudden, unregulated resource extraction to disrupt local communities.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Akisa Wandera BBC Manasse Lomachar would like the discovery of gold to improve life in his village 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 the arrival of thousands of prospectors 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.
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