The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has chastised senior officials in Kitui County Government for allowing illegal sand harvesting, which is causing severe environmental damage.
According to EACC, the officials, along with those representing the national government, have turned a blind eye to the business while pocketing millions of shillings from illegal sales.
The officials have been accused of providing protection to private individuals and entities harvesting sand.
According to EACC, lorries ferrying sand from Mwingi rivers are stopped at various roadblocks and charged Sh6,000 each, money that does not go to the county.
The Commission, through its Head of Corporate Communication Eric Ngumbi, revealed on Sunday that an ongoing investigation has revealed that government officials in Kitui share the money on a weekly basis.
“This is despite the fact that NEMA has not issued licences for harvesting of the natural resource,” he said.
On April 12, 2023, EACC arrested four private persons who had mounted illegal roadblocks on Mwingi- Matuu Road where each lorry carrying sand paid Ksh.6000 but when the suspects were released on bond at Kanyonyo Police Station pending further probe, they all went straight back to the site and continued with the illegal collections.
EACC says the suspects enjoy protection from some Kitui County Government officials and challenged the County Assembly to take up its oversight role and hold the Executive to account.
The County Assembly was also asked to consider enacting appropriate legislation towards addressing illegal sand harvesting.
