Six drivers were fined Sh300,000 on Tuesday
for taking part in the charcoal trade despite Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu's ban.
Muteti Munyoki, Joseph Nderitu, Alexander Mutisya, Mutua Mwololo, Richard Maina and Alex Mugambi were fined Sh50,000 each after pleaded guilty to the charge.
It was said they carried
between 130 and 200 bags of charcoal each on their lorries at the time they were arrested.
The six appeared before Mwingi Senior Resident Magistrate Grace Kirungumi who said they will be jailed for a year should they not pay the fines.
The magistrate also ordered that the 930 bags of charcoal be handed to the county government.
The bags were seized from six lorries which were impounded on March 14 at Ukasi in Mwingi Central in an operation by the OCS, county enforcement officers and environment inspectors.
Ngilu has been on spot over the implementation of the Charcoal Ban Act that was passed by the Assembly.
Early in February, NCIC chairman Francis ole Kaparo summoned her on allegations that she incited youths to burn lorries transporting charcoal in the county.
The Governor denied this accusation and claims that certain communities were being targeted in the protests against charcoal burning and sand harvesting.
The county chief noted the ban on charcoal burning has been in force since 2014 and that the county is only enforcing the Charcoal Management Act.
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Ngilu has since received support from politicians including Nasa principals.
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula of Ford Kenya, ANC's Musalia Mudavadi and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka said if mitigation measures are not put in place to control the charcoal trade, the country might soon be declared a desert.
"People must be held responsible. Right now the entire Kamba region is dry due to charcoal burning. If this is not controlled, Kenya will be declared a desert," Kalonzo said.
He added that Ngilu should not be prosecuted for efforts to rid the county of poverty.
"Don't blame the one fighting for the well-being of the residents," he said, adding
Kenya should conserve water resources instead of prosecuting people trying to save them.
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