Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has issued a stern warning to unscrupulous individuals controlling what he described as sand-harvesting cartels, stressing that the county will not tolerate illegal sand extraction.
Mutula issued the warning in Wote on Monday, where he reiterated that the continued harvesting of sand was exposing residents to the severe risk of water insecurity in the area.
The Governor said his government will continue to enforce the sand extraction regulations to the letter to ensure the cartels are dealt with as part of efforts to avert the degradation of the environment.
“My administration will not back down in enforcing the strict regulations that govern the sand sector.
I will ensure the rogue cartel networks are dismantled, as they are profiteering at the expense of local communities,” vowed Mutula while addressing the Makueni Sand Conservation and Utilisation Authority staff on Monday.
Citing progress witnessed in Kilome following the ban imposed on harvesting sand, the governor disclosed that the government had plans to take the county beyond conservation by venturing into sand value addition.
“My administration intends to invest in technologies and infrastructure that will enable Makueni to process sand into high-value products once resources allow. This initiative is expected to boost county revenue and create jobs for residents,” he said.
During the event, Mutula issued letters of appointment to 44 staff of the Sand Authority who will now be on permanent and pensionable terms.
He said that the move was significant, as it will strengthen sand conservation and safeguard the critical environmental resource, saying it will also improve the workers’ morale to offer better services.
“The transition to permanent terms is not only a reward for their resilience but also an investment in their future. The decision is expected to boost morale and motivate the team as they continue to play a key role in environmental protection,” he observed.
The occasion also served to unveil the new Authority’s Managing Director (MD), Mr. Ndambuki Kioko, who is expected to steer the agency through its next phase of institutional growth and conservation work.
Governor Mutula lauded the Sand Conservation and Utilisation Authority as the most improved semi-autonomous government agency in the county, noting its great contribution to the growth of Makueni’s own-source revenue in the last financial year.
Present included the Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, among other county government officials.
By Patrick Nyakundi
