Tana River Governor Dhadho Godhana has with immediate effect outlawed charcoal burning and sand harvesting business in the county.
The ODM governor said that the ban is meant to protect the environment and will be enforced strictly.
he raised concerns over the wanton destruction of forest cover adding that his officers should enforce the ban strictly of face the sack.
Godhana stated that Tana River County is one of the driest parts in the country and should lead the fight to conserve the environment.
“We must work together as citizens and protect the environment because it is what keeps us alive,” he told journalists during a briefing at his county office on Tuesday.
The governor said that locals will not need permission to cut trees adding that the county in partnership with the national government will launch a tree planting exercise in the next coming days.
Godhana while defending his Kitui counterpart Charity Ngilu for charcoal ban warned politicians against politicizing the war against charcoal and sand harvesting.
Tana River joins Machakos, Kitui, Narok, Kilifi, Kiambu and Taita Taveta as counties that have declared war on logging, charcoal burning and sand harvesting.
The fight against logging is taking shape as leaders across the county call for concerted efforts to save the environment.
On Monday, the Council of Governors (COG) urged counties to implement measures that will conserve the environment.