The Government has with immediate effect suspended sand harvesting in Masinga, Machakos County.
Led by the Machakos County Commissioner Matilda Sakwa, senior officials from national and Machakos governments toured Kivaa ward on Friday.
Sakwa was accompanied by the National Environmental Complaints Committee chief executive officer John Chumo, Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Maliti and area MCA Justus Kiteng'u
They witnessed massive environmental degradation occasioned by rampant sand scooping at Inyanzaa River.
The officials jointly suspended sand harvesting activities in the region until proper public participation and policy development on the matter is adopted.
Sakwa said it was illegal for anyone to interfere with riparian zone of rivers and ordered law enforcement officers to ensure the ban is followed to the latter.
Chumo said it is critical to ensure all stakeholders are involved in management of public resources and in particular where there is risk of major natural resources depletion such as rivers and forests.
On his part, Maliti said the Machakos County Government in consultation with the county assembly and other relevant government agencies was committed to developing policy framework to ensure compliance to environmental conservation
During the occasion, a local conservation group, Inyanzaa Community Green Sand Dam association was honored for its role in leading conservation campaigns in rivers.
For the past few months, area residents have been clashing with sand harvesting cartels who operate in various rivers leaving them dry.
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