lowereas
Kitui County Commissioner Erastus Mbui declared that it would no longer be business as usual for illegal sand harvesters and the powerful individuals allegedly shielding them, following a deadly clash at Mwania River in Mwingi Central.
Speaking at his office on February 12, 2026, Mr. Mbui announced tough security measures to regulate sand harvesting across the county after rising violence linked to suspected organized sand cartels. He said security agencies would closely monitor all operations and dismantle criminal networks fueling bloodshed in the trade.
The crackdown followed a violent confrontation at Mwania River in Kaunguni Village, Waita Ward, where 70-year-old Joseph Mwendwa Maluki was killed during clashes between suspected sand cartels and unarmed residents protesting environmental destruction caused by uncontrolled sand scooping. Several other villagers were injured, with one referred to Kenyatta National Hospital for specialized treatment.
Witnesses reported that about 100 residents had peacefully marched to the riverbank to protest the draining of the river, which had been left with bare rocks and muddy trenches, threatening livelihoods. The protest turned violent when armed individuals allegedly arrived in a lorry and attacked them using crude weapons.
Mr. Mbui confirmed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations had launched investigations to identify and arrest those responsible. A joint security meeting subsequently imposed a total ban on sand harvesting in the affected area as investigations continue.
He warned that those behind the violence, regardless of their status, would face the full force of the law, emphasizing that protecting human life and preserving the environment remained the government’s priority.
ENDS///…
