Kitui businessman Peter Kalungu has threatened legal action against Enock Wambua following remarks linking powerful interests and cartels to illegal sand harvesting in the county.

The dispute follows Senator Wambua’s recent public campaign against unregulated sand mining in Kitui County, where he said cartels were exploiting communities, drying rivers, and profiting from the trade. He vowed to continue pushing for arrests and reforms in the sector.

Kalungu reportedly says the remarks were defamatory and damaged his reputation, insisting he has not engaged in illegal sand harvesting. He is now demanding either evidence or a retraction, warning that he will be moving to court.

“I will take the Senator to court for character assassination. I’m a clean businessman”, Kalungu said.

The former NARC councilor wondered why the Senator was targeting his business which he says has employed thousands of jobless youths.

Wambua had publicly accused Kalungu among other powerful cartels of exploiting the county’s sand resources, alleging that billions are being siphoned off while local residents receive no benefit.

Speaking at a public rally in Katutu while addressing Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Wambua claimed that entrenched networks have been illegally extracting sand and pocketing the proceeds at the expense of the people of Kitui.

“We have been dealing with cartels in this county and they pocket the money after stealing it, leaving our people with problems,” Wambua said.

The senator singled out Kalungu, alleging that he is the “largest thief” involved in illegal sand harvesting in the region.

“The largest thief in stealing sand from Kitui is Kalungu and he passes here while goimg to his home,” he stated.

Wambua further alleged that his efforts to defend the county’s resources have made him a target, claiming he recently received a threatening message.

“Just because I am fighting for the sand rights of the people of Kitui, he sent me a threatening message to try to scare me,” he said.

He dismissed the alleged intimidation, maintaining that he would not be deterred.

“Do I look like someone who can be scared? The people who are here working with Kalungu, go tell him to find someone his age to threaten, not me,” Wambua added.

The senator also linked the issue to the national affordable housing programme, arguing that Kitui’s sand is a major contributor to ongoing construction projects across the country, yet locals are not benefiting.

“There is this thing Ruto has called affordable housing. The people selling doors, cement, steel and iron sheets have all gotten money, but about 80% of the sand building those houses is coming from Kitui, and the people of Kitui are not getting anything,” he said.

Wambua emphasized his constitutional role as senator, stating that he is obligated to protect the county’s resources and interests.

“I, as the Senator for Kitui, am the only elected leader with the constitutional mandate to protect the interests of the county of Kitui and its people,” he said.

He issued a stern warning to those involved in sand harvesting, calling for an immediate halt to the activity and hinting at direct action if the situation persists.

“The people who are reaping sand from Kitui’s rivers should stop completely. It will reach a place we will confront you, take the keys of those lorries, and take them to the police station,” Wambua warned.