Residents of Tiva, Kitui Central and by extension NEMA have won a land mark case against sand cartels engaging on unsustainable sand harvesting in the River.
Through Lawyer B. M Musyoki advocates, the residents wanted the cartel stopped from harvesting sand in Ndumoni, Tiva, Tanganyika and Nyaanyaa areas.
Among the respondents is a notorious sand dealer Peter Kalungu, a former MCA of Kwa Mutonga/Kathivo Ward.
Others are the County Government of Kitui, the Kenya Police Service, the Kitui County Commissioner among other respondents.
In his ruling, Justice Luka Kimaru of the Machakos Environment Court banned sand harvesting along Tiva River until a substantive sustainable sand harvesting program is passed.
NEMA already has this in place and is waiting enactment.
Kimaru directed that the County Environment Committee be appointed to regulate sand harvesting in Kitui.
During a meeting with the NEMA board Eric Mungai and Director Charles Mulila on 7th March 2023, Governor Malombe promised to enact the gazette the Committee within 7 days following the NEMA board appeal.
