Sand harvesting and murram excavation has today been banned in Kanyakwar, along the roads, electricity poles and pipelines as Sand harvesters will now be required to secure licenses and operate within the designated areas sited by the environmental sub –committee.   

 In addition, sand transporters will be required to apply for temporary or annual permit to operate and companies will register with County department of environment.

While briefing the media on the resolutions made during the meeting, Mr. Tom Togo the Director NEMA who is also the secretary of the sub – committee, put on notice those who will be found violating the regulations that they will suffer a penalty ranging from Ksh 1- 4 million fine, or up to one-year sentence or both.

This was resolved in a meeting held on Wednesday this week, chaired by the CEC for Environment, water and Natural Resources, Mr. Salmon Orimba, the sub- committee members came up with resolutions that will regulate sand harvesting exercise following the notice served to the harvesters before the ban.

The county environmental sub- committee under the umbrella of Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) 2015, is an inter- multi agency that has embarked on reducing environmental degradation due to rampant sand harvesting and murram excavation.

The Committee which was inaugurated last year by the Governor comprises of County departments of Environment, Agriculture, Housing and physical planning, National Government agencies including the County Commissioner, Kenya Marine, Water resource committee, Kenya Forest, Nema, among others.

He was flanked by the County Chief Officer Environment, Maryline Agwa, Chief Officer Lands Housing and Physical Planning Mr. George Ochieng, Director Conservation and Stewardship Mr. Ken Koyoo, Assistant County Commissioner Rose    Nyakwara among other county environment officers.

NEMA County Director Mr Tom Togo (centre) addresses the media flanked by County Chief Officer for Environment Water and Natural Resources Ms Maryline Agwa (right) and Director Conservation and Stewardship Mr Ken K’Oyoo (left) on the compliance rules for sand and murram excavation to control land degradation. Sand harvesters will now be required to secure license and to operate within the stipulated regulations. Meanwhile he said that murram harvesting within Kanyakwar area stands banned.