Kathiani residents have been cautioned against sand harvesting.
Area deputy county commissioner Margaret Mbungua warned that any local found harvesting sand in Kathiani, Machakos County won't be spared.
Mbugua said the residents have been tolerating sand harvesting in the entire sub-county.
She disclosed that sand harvesting activities were mostly conducted at night by rogue youths.
"There's a group of youths who have been harvesting sand from people's farms at night, they should be warned that their days are numbered," Mbugua said.
Mbugua addressed the public outside her office on Friday.
She told residents that despite owning the farms, the minerals in them belong to the government.
Mbugua said there's no licensed site for sand harvesting in Kathiani sub-county.
"Yes, the farms are yours but that doesn't give you the right to conduct any kind of mining without a permit from the government," Mbugua said.
"It's sad arresting an old woman on basis of sand harvesting, please let's avoid this kind of behavior," she added.
She said a man had died while another sustained injuries as they tried to harvest sand from a nearby farm recently.
Mbugua spoke during a tree planting exercise in a bid to sensitize the locals on the importance of planting trees.
1,500 seedlings were planted in her compound during the function.
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