Malombe, Wavinya put in place measures to control sand harvesting

Governors Julius Malombe receives a report from Kitui Sand Harvesting and Management taskforce. [File, Standard]

The governor told the committee that unregulated sand harvesting has sometimes led to deaths due to landslides and collapsing of tunnels. She regretted that sand harvesting has led to social ills like unplanned pregnancies, and increased drug and substance abuse among the youth and school-going children in the region.

Machakos County Sand Harvesting Act 2014 amended in 2022, provides for the establishment of a County Sand Harvesting and Management Committee and a legal framework for sand harvesting and registration of sand harvesting cooperatives.

Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda had sought a statement on the actions undertaken by the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) and relevant departments to ensure sustained enforcement of laws and regulations pertaining to natural resources including sand harvesting in Kitui county.

"The committee should provide details of guidelines formulated and implemented by the Kitui county and the National Environment Management Authority in relation to sand harvesting with a specific focus on managing and mitigating the impact of sand harvesting on the environment and host community," said Mutinda.

The Nominated Senator sought to have Kitui County and Nema carry out regular monitoring and inspection in order to guarantee compliance with environmental regulations regarding sand harvesting and recommend measures to stop illegal sand harvesting in the county.

Nema Director General Mamo Boru Mamo said Kenya has experienced a boom in construction and unregulated sand harvesting is an environmental disaster in the making and they are working with various government agencies to ensure the situation is under control.

Mamo revealed that the Authority has recruited 200 environmental Inspectors across the country to ensure that those who carry out activities that may contribute to environmental degradation face the law to serve as a lesson to others.