NEMA to crackdown illegal sand harvesting sites in Homa-Bay

By Dickens Ochieng

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in Homa Bay County has announced a major crackdown on illegal sand harvesting sites in all the eight sub counties in the ongoing efforts by the authority to conserve the environment.

NEMA county director Josiah Nayndoro says that the move is also aimed at reducing the high number of deaths that have been witnessed in various sand harvesting sites being operated illegally across the county.

Nyadoro’s statement came barely a week after a man was buried alive while excavating sand at a banned quarry site in Karabondi Location, Rachuonyo North Sub County killing him on the spot.

Speaking with Radio Sky, Nyandoro says that the authority has realized that several sand harvesting sites in Homa Bay county are operating illegally with no approval by NEMA hence causing live threat to people involved in such activities.

He says that they have mapped out various illegal sand harvesting sites in Rachuonyo North, Rachuonyo south and East, Rangwe and Mbita sub counties where land owners have allowed the illegal sand harvesting activity to take place without Nema approval.

Nyandoro says that they are now working together with police officers and the National Government Administrative officers (NGAOs) to conduct raids in all the illegal sand harvesting sites in the county to ensure the activity is contained.