Senator Kiio Wambua Declares War on Kitui Sand Cartels
Kitui County Senator Hon. Enoch Kiio Wambua has issued a strong warning to sand cartels operating in the county, vowing to do everything within his power to stop the illegal harvesting and sale of sand from Kitui’s seasonal rivers.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at his rural home in Kyondoni, Kabati, Senator Wambua said he is prepared to make personal sacrifices to protect the environment for the sake of future generations.
The senator warned that unregulated sand harvesting is accelerating environmental degradation in Kitui, an already arid and semi-arid county. He said the continued scooping of sand from seasonal rivers risks turning the county into a desert if urgent action is not taken. Wambua added that he is ready to cut political ties with individuals linked to the sand trade if that is what it takes to defend the interests of the people of Kitui. “When there is a conflict between political correctness and the interests of the people of Kitui County, I will effortlessly choose to stand on the side of the people,” he said.
Senator Wambua also alleged the existence of a well-organized cartel network operating between sand harvesting sites and county cess collection points. According to Wambua, trucks ferrying sand daily often fail to pay the required cess, denying the county government substantial revenue. He claimed that shadowy Saccos allegedly collect up to Ksh. 6,000 per truck but issue receipts of only Ksh. 1,000, which are then presented at cess points as proof of payment to secure waivers. “This is a blatant rip-off of our county resources by a closely knit and dangerous cartel,” he said.
While acknowledging the efforts of the Kitui County Assembly for enacting the Kitui County River Basins Sand Utilization and Conservation Act (2023), the senator expressed dissatisfaction with its implementation. He faulted the county government leadership and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) for failing to fully enforce the law.
The senator admitted that confronting the powerful cartels behind illegal sand harvesting could expose him to political or personal attacks but maintained that he would not be intimidated. “Those benefiting from this trade will fight back, both online and otherwise. I am ready to pay the price to protect our county and its environment,” he said
“After this presser, they and their agents will come out to attack me on social media or even physically for daring to stand in the way of their bloody money. I am ready to pay the ultimate price to secure our county,” he reaffirmed.
“I do not need to name them now. They will soon reveal themselves. But as long as I have life in my body, I will firmly and fearlessly stand up for my county and for the protection of our environment, for present and future generations.”
The senator called on Kitui residents who value environmental conservation to join him in the fight against sand cartels. He warned that the same groups previously involved in illegal charcoal burning are now turning their attention to rivers.
“They cleared our forests through illegal charcoal burning. Now they have turned their greed to our rivers. Enough is enough. We must stop them, or they will stop all of us,” he said.
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Hon. Kiio Wambua, who has already declared his interest in the Kitui gubernatorial seat in the 2027 elections, said that if elected governor, his administration would enforce strict controls on sand harvesting to protect the environment and ensure the county benefits from its natural resources. “For the record, when that time comes and I am Kitui Governor, I promise that such nonsense will not happen under my administration,” he stated.
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