Vihiga bans sand harvesting due to environmental hazard concerns

Sand harvesters in Buhani area, Vihiga county, have been banned from harvesting sand with immediate effect, as the activities are posing an environmental hazard.

Speaking during a public baraza with residents of Buhani area at a church in Buhani, Vihiga subcounty, deputy county commissioner Linet Orina issued a stern warning to sand harvesters and transporters that the exercise must stop immediately or they risk arrest.

Orina regretted that sand harvesters are not abiding by the laws and regulations. She cited Buhani PAG church, which has been left unstable after sand was harvested around it, denying worshippers access and posing a great hazard due to a serious risk of collapse.

She asked residents, especially the youth, to look for alternative sources of income, such as planting and selling vegetables, commending those who have embraced greenhouses, like resident Ernest Boge, who are earning a living by selling indigenous vegetables.

Orina advised the sand harvesters and transporters to form and register groups with the Directorate of Social Services so that they can benefit from government funds such as the Youth Enterprise and Development Fund, Uwezo Fund, and Women Enterprise Fund, among other grants.

She said a crackdown will be conducted soon, and anyone found violating the regulations will be arrested and charged accordingly.

Area residents, led by Ken Ambwere, urged the government to give them more time to look for other sources of income, saying they have been depending on sand harvesting for their livelihoods.

Brenda Obura, an officer from the National Environmental Management Authority, called on residents to adhere to the law governing sand harvesting and transporting, warning that failure to do so could lead to arrest.

She asked sand harvesters to obtain licenses from NEMA, sand transporters to get permits from NEMA, and landowners to ensure they have licenses and designated sand harvesting sites.

Obura advised them to harvest sand in a sloping method, saying this ensures natural land rejuvenation, unlike harvesting in a straight manner.

She urged sand harvesters, transporters and landowners to help rehabilitate degraded sand harvesting sites by planting trees.