Makueni County government officials on Friday met with representatives of sand harvesters to iron out conservation issues and regulated the trade following weeks of antagonism.

 

The meeting took place at a hotel in Wote town bring together county officials, members of a local conservation agency and representatives of sand harvesters.

 

Sand Authority chairman Charles Mutuku said: "We have agreed to work together in a 8-member taskforce that will look into ways of facilitating the traders to collect sand from other places while conserving sand from Makueni rivers."

 

He added: "As a committee, we shall also look into allegations that county askaris have been harassing truck drivers and in some cases, demanding bribes from traders to release impounded trucks."

 

Mr Amos Muia, the chairman of Syokasand Society of Sand Traders, said the meeting was a good step towards end the fued that was sparked by the county government's decision to impose a ban on sand harvesting.

 

n Friday, several county askaris were clobbered by goons, believed to have been hired by sand traders, and two of their vehicles torched.

 

Governor Kivutha Kibwana condemned the incident, calling on the Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery to intervene.

 

The sand traders denied the accusation but decried the loss of business after their trucks were impounded and sand offloaded by Makueni County government.

 

"Once a vehicle is impounded on Mombasa Road and it is confirmed that it is ferrying sand from Makueni, it should not be driven by county government officials to Wote town as this puts the owners in an awkward position dealing with the insurers," said Mr Mathews Mawira.

 

Source : allafrica.com