Quarry mining of stones on the banks of River Mumoi in Subukia, Nakuru, is raising concerns among residents.
The river is silted, polluted and the water levels diminishing. The springs that once increased the water levels no longer exist.
Vital infrastructure such as bridges have been destroyed by the greedy miners, forcing the county and government to build new, bigger bridges.
The bridge that connects Arash village to Mumoi Primary School has since been rendered useless. The headteacher at the school, Francis Karanja says when it rains, pupils have to seek alternative crossing points, which are 3km away.
This has increased incidents of lateness and absenteeism from school.
The local MCA Peter Mwangi Njoroge, has acknowledged the problem and articulated the solutions he has to this menace.
One, there is a contractor on site to build a bigger bridge, he says.
Secondly, he says plans are underway to drive all the illegal miners away from the river banks. Residents hope that this is not all talk.
A farmer who identified himself as Lawrence said last year, the MCA made the same promises but nothing has happened.
While acknowlegding that work at the bridge has started, the farmer is apprehensive that mining will not stop as it is still going on right where the bridge construction is taking place.
It's a delicate balance between environmental conservation and employment opportunities in a region where employment rate is almost zero.
It therefore becomes a political issue, where the local leaders are torn between popular and right decisions.
Photo: the bridge under construction right next to a quarry