Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe (EGH) has today commissioned the County Sand Harvesting and Management Taskforce during its inaugural meeting in Kitui.
In his remarks, the Governor said the taskforce is mandated to develop the legislative framework to ensure sustainable sand harvesting and management across the county.
He noted the objective of the legislative framework as ensuring sustainable sand harvesting that benefits the county, communities and realizes environmentally friendly management practices in order to restore and maintain healthy catchment ecosystems in the county.
The county has in the recent times witnessed an upsurge of unregulated sand harvesting which pauses risks of environmental degradation, loss of revenue, emergence of unregulated groups and cartels leading to insecurity and social disorder at the sand harvesting sites necessitating the need for order among stakeholders.
The taskforce comprises the chairperson Madam Esther Musili, Vice Chairperson, fourteen members and a secretariat. Madam Musili previously served as the Executive Director – Anglican Development Services Eastern region that works with stakeholders to build community capacities in climate change adaptation.
The committee will eventually develop a draft of the Kitui County Sand Harvesting Management Policy and a draft of the Kitui County Sand Harvesting and Management Bill by end of June this year.