Vihiga drafts policy to curb sand harvesting and quarrying menace

Vihiga environment executive Dr Jaitus Amayi addresses experts, county government officials and other stakeholders /HILTON OTENYO

The government of Vihiga has finalised a policy framework to regulate sand harvesting and quarrying, a sector that has grown rapidly on the back of rising demand for construction materials.

Developed by the Department of Environment, Energy, Natural Resources and Climate Change, the policy aims to balance economic benefits with environmental protection and community welfare.

It comes amid concerns that unregulated extraction has left behind degraded land, reduced farm productivity, and put rivers at risk of drying up or flooding during heavy rains. Residents have also raised the alarm over rising conflicts linked to resource use.

County executive for environment Dr Jairus Amayi said the framework will introduce clear extraction guidelines, mandatory rehabilitation of mining sites, and protection of sensitive ecosystems.

“We had to act after widespread complaints from residents that illegal sand harvesting and quarrying was risking their health and safety. Once implemented, this policy will regulate the sector, safeguard the environment, and ensure that communities benefit without compromising Vihiga’s ecological balance,” he said during a validation forum that brought together experts, officials, and community representatives.

The county is home to more than 100 sand mining sites, operated both by small-scale miners and large companies. For many, it is a trade of last resort despite repeated government bans, especially along rivers.

Kennedy Afandi, a 36-year-old father of two who has worked for a decade at River Lunyerere, says the work is grueling and dangerous.

“People think we make millions, but this business is all sacrifice and loss. Every day I risk my life in the waters just to earn enough to feed my family,” he said.

A lorry earns a harvester between Sh6,000 and Sh12,000, but most of that, he added, goes to labour and logistics.

For residents like Phoebe Malesi from Kijutu, the trade-off has been too costly. “Our land has been severely affected by mining. Fertile soils are gone and farm productivity is falling,” she lamented, warning that the uncontrolled scooping of riverbeds could alter water flow and expose lives and property to flooding.

The policy, which also emphasises climate-resilient technologies, is expected to put Vihiga ahead in sustainable resource management once adopted.

For now, communities wait to see whether this framework will finally tame a sector long associated with environmental damage and human suffering.