A row is brewing in Kiambere Ward in Mbeere Constituency, Embu, over control of the sand harvesting business along Tana River within the Seven Forks Dams cascade.
At the center of the dispute is control of revenue generated from hand harvesting that is the main economic activity in the area.
Residents of Karura Village have cut ties with a Community Based Organization (CBO) that has been managing the resource for eight years and established their own citing neglect and marginalization in sharing of the revenue generated.
On Friday, there was a standoff after locals barricaded the road to ensure no truck ferrying sand would leave the area without paying a fee of Ksh. 1, 000 to the newly established CBO.
They said they want to take charge of their resource so that the proceeds collected from the sand can be used to carry out community projects like road, hospital and school improvement as well as restoration of environmental balance.
“Through our CBO, we want to draw maximum benefits from this sand to improve our lives,” said Chair Felix Mbenji.
They said instead of the sand being of value to the community, it had only brought them misery with road damage due to heavy trucks using it and dust pollution that has exposed locals to respiratory illnesses.
“We have said enough is enough to the neglect we have suffered as Karura Community in the hands of that CBO and it is time we chart our own course,” said resident Jane Njue.
They accused their Ward Rep Lenny Masters who is the patron of the Ward CBO of micromanaging, it leading to the skewed distribution of projects funded through sand harvesting proceeds.
