Governor Charity Ngilu's ban on charcoal burning and sand harvesting today got a shot in the arm after the National Environmental Complaints Committee unreservedly supported it.
The committee noted that environmental degradation has caused a lot of direct and indirect suffering in Kenya ranging from poor rains, hunger to early pregnancy and high school drop out rates.
Speaking when they paid courtesy call on Ngilu at her office in Kitui following complains over burning of a lorry ferrying charcoal along the Mwingi-Thika Road, the committee led by Isabela Masinde narrated to the governor how people suffer as a result of charcoal burning and sand harvesting.
Masinde said in her tours of many areas of charcoal burning and sand harvesting , she had witnessed people suffer water shortages since rivers had dried up forcing many to walk long distances in search of the commodity.
She said young girls were either molested or lured into risky sexual behavior leading to early pregnancies and HIV/Aids infection.
Masinde said after interrogations into the charcoal ban, the committee noted that the people of Kitui County fully supported the charcoal and sand ban.
She said the committee had information that the public largely pursued lorries ferrying sand and charcoal within the county.
Masinde said in her recent visit to Thange, Thwake and Masinga rivers among others in the larger Lower Eastern Region, the committee realized that sand harvesting and charcoal burning had caused drying of water on river beds and reduced rainfall forcing the community to walk long distances in search of water for livestock and other domestic use.
Ngilu said she had devoted herself to environmental conservation since she was sworn into office.
She told the committee that her immediate action towards environmental protection was the removal of toxic asbestos waste that had been dumped at Kiongwe Hills in Kitui East Sub County.
Ngilu said the toxic waste was a threat to human safety because it could poison water sources in the entire Kitui East and parts of Kitui South sub counties.
Kiongwe Hills are the main water catchment for River Thua, which is used by more than 100,000 households and more than 500,000 livestock in Kitui East and Kitui South sub counties.
The governor said the deadly substance had been removed to ensure that people do not suffer from toxins, she noted that her government would allocate resources to plant trees in the entire Kitui County to help restore a healthy environment for all generations.
Ngilu said she would embark on the rehabilitation of all rivers and support communities in environmental conservation.
She disclosed that the cartels behind charcoal burning in the county were trading with Saudi Arabians.
" They can't enjoy eating life with a big spoon while our people continue suffering," Ngilu said.
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