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Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua has pledged to rally residents for mass action against what he termed uncontrolled and destructive sand harvesting, warning that the activity is depleting water sources and fuelling desertification across the county.
Wambua said cartels involved in the trade would soon face resistance from the public, vowing that residents would block trucks from accessing riverbeds to extract sand.
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The senator first sounded the warning on December 23 during a press briefing at his rural home in Kyondoni, Kitui West, where he declared he was willing to make personal sacrifices to stop environmentally harmful sand harvesting.
He reiterated his stance on Tuesday while addressing mourners at a burial in Kanginga village, Kavuvwani area of Mwingi West constituency, saying he was prepared to risk his life if it meant ending the destruction of rivers.
“I have made peace with my family because I understand the danger posed by the people I am confronting. They are capable of extreme actions,” Wambua said, adding that he would not back down even in the face of threats.
The senator urged residents of Mwingi and the wider Kitui County to organise themselves and take part in protecting rivers and water catchment areas, saying the county’s long-term survival depends on collective responsibility.
He claimed that since launching his campaign, he has received threats, including intimidating messages and online attacks, but maintained that such actions would not silence him.
Wambua said excessive sand harvesting has stripped riverbeds bare, leaving them rocky and dry, worsening water shortages and accelerating desertification. He cited rivers Tiva, Ithekethe, Kiromboko, Kivou and Mwania as among those facing serious degradation.
He warned that Kitui’s rivers risk suffering the same fate as forests previously destroyed by charcoal cartels if urgent action is not taken.
The senator criticised the Kitui County Government for failing to enforce existing laws regulating sand harvesting, despite the county assembly passing legislation in February 2024 to safeguard river basins and the environment.
Records indicate that the Kitui County River Basins Sand Utilisation and Conservation Act, 2023 was signed into law by Governor Julius Malombe on March 1, 2024, but implementation has been weak.
Wambua also accused the county office of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) of neglecting its duty, alleging it has allowed environmental degradation to continue unchecked.
