A joint committee of the Kitui County Assembly has launched an inquiry into deadly conflicts linked to sand harvesting in parts of Kitui County following reports of killings, displacement of residents and growing insecurity.
The Joint Committee on Environment, Energy and Mineral Investments Development, chaired by Alphonse Musyimi Mukwayu, together with the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee led by interim chair Deborah Mutuku, on Wednesday met six Members of the County Assembly from areas affected by sand harvesting activities.
The meeting focused on violent clashes reported in Mwania area within Waita Ward, where recent incidents linked to sand harvesting have left several people dead while others have been forced to flee their homes.
During the session, the MCAs presented detailed submissions on the state of sand harvesting in their wards, revealing the scale of the operations and the serious challenges emerging from the largely unregulated activity.
Members warned that the situation is rapidly deteriorating, with environmental destruction, insecurity and social instability becoming increasingly common in affected areas.
The committee heard that while wards such as Mumoni, Tseikuru and Kiomo/Kyethani currently have little or no sand harvesting, the situation is far worse in Waita, Kisasi and Nguni wards where the activity is said to be widespread and largely uncontrolled.
Leaders raised alarm over the environmental impact, saying excessive sand harvesting has led to severe soil erosion, drying of water sources and destruction of river ecosystems. They also pointed to rising social challenges including school dropouts, family breakdowns and growing tension between sand loaders and local residents.
Security concerns also dominated the discussions, with reports of violent confrontations between rival groups fighting for control of sand harvesting sites.
In some cases, the clashes have reportedly led to displacement of families and violations of basic human rights.
The MCAs are now calling on the county government to urgently enforce the Kitui County River Basins Utilisation and Sand Conservation Act, 2024, warning that failure to act could lead to more deaths and further instability in affected areas.
