Senator slams illegal sand harvesting for drying rivers

Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua shares biscuits with children during the Kiio Wambua Foundation medical camp at Kalitini market in Mwingi Central sub county in Kitui on Friday/Musembi Nzengu.

Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua speaks during the Kiio Wambua Foundation free medical camp at Kalitini market in Mwingi Central subcounty, Kitui on Friday / MUSEMBI NZENGU

Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua has declared he is ready to sacrifice his political ambitions to stop illegal sand harvesting in the county.

Speaking in the Kalitini market on Friday during a free medical camp organised by the Kiio Wambua Foundation, he said he is not afraid of losing his seat.

“If defending Kitui’s sand resources from plunder costs me any leadership position, even that of an MCA, so be it, so long as sand mining stops,” he said.

Wambua vowed to continue his campaign against unregulated sand harvesting, which he launched in December, saying the fight is aimed at protecting local resources from exploitation.

“When you see me protecting Kitui resources, I am not fighting individuals. I want to ensure our mothers can access water stored in the sand, even during the peak of the dry season,” he said.

The senator, who has declared interest in the 2027 gubernatorial race, said he will stop at nothing to dismantle sand cartels and end illegal mining.

During the medical camp in Mui Ward, Mwingi Central constituency, more than 1,200 patients were treated for various ailments, with others referred to higher-level facilities.

The Senate Deputy Minority Leader said Mwingi Central has become a hotspot for illegal sand harvesting, with rivers drying up and turning rocky as water sources disappear. He added that clashes linked to the trade have also resulted in fatalities.

He said the Senate Environment Committee will soon visit Kitui to assess the extent of environmental damage caused by sand harvesting.

“The visit will allow senators to gather first-hand information and witness the magnitude of destruction caused by reckless sand harvesting,” he said.

He lamented that most rivers in the county have been degraded, worsening water scarcity and environmental damage.

Wambua also vowed to expose and push for the arrest of those behind the illegal trade.

“It is disheartening that loaders are paid Sh200, while cartels pocket Sh6,000 per truck, yet the sand is eventually sold for as much as Sh130,000. This is exploitation,” he said.

He expressed hope that the Senate’s intervention will help restore order in the multibillion-shilling sector.

“Going forward, there must be an understanding between communities and those harvesting sand. No one should extract sand without the consent of the local community,” he said.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

There have been growing concerns over ecological degradation in arid counties. By framing the issue as both environmental and economic injustice, Senator Wambua broadens its political appeal. However, confronting entrenched cartels presents significant risks, including political backlash and enforcement challenges.