Kitui assembly passes Bill to regulate sand mining, weed out cartels

The Kitui assembly on Wednesday passed a Bill to bring order and sanity to the unregulated multimillion-shilling sand mining industry.

Once assented to by Governor Julius Malombe, it is expected to regulate the industry controlled by mafia-like cartels who have been minting millions at the expense of Kitui people.

The Kitui County River Basins Sand Utilisation and Conservation Bill, 2023, will help in restoration of degraded land due to years of unregulated sand harvesting once it becomes law.

It will also help conserve the environment and boost county revenue.

The Bill was passed by acclamation without any opposition during a sitting presided over by assembly speaker Kevin Katisya.

The motion had been moved by environment, energy and minerals investments committee chairperson Daniel Muange and seconded by his deputy Rose Kasyoka.

“The law must be enforced. It is our duty as a House to enforce it,” Katisya said.

Muange said the Bill provides legislative framework to regulate sand utilisation and conservation of river basins.

He said it will also streamline sand management practices and bring sanity and order in sand mining. 

Muange said the law will ensure equitable sharing of benefits among key players in sand harvesting.

He said it will also lead to the development of sand resource value addition initiatives.

“We have had a problem. The sand harvesting industry was uncontrolled and people were doing what they wanted to do,"Muange said.

“There was no revenue collection by the Kitui government. Communities were not reaping any benefits while outsiders were reaping big.”

Assembly minority leader Alex Nganga said the new law is not meant to be punitive but to regulate sand harvesting.

"Let us see the proceeds of sand harvesting through revenue generation,” he said.

Nganga said in the next budget, the county government should indicate how much it expects to net from sand harvesting.

Majority leader Harrison Maluki said, "The people of Kitui will now benefit from our natural resource that has for years been benefiting outlanders. All we are asking for is the implementation of the law to the latter."

Maluki represents Migwani ward. 

On Thursday, Malombe’s communication desk announced he will assent to the bill on Friday morning.

“Governor Julius Malombe is set to assent to law the County River Basins Sand Utilisation and Conservation Bill, 2023, tomorrow (March 1),” it said.

The signing will take place at the governor’s office parking lot at 10am.