Leaders and environmentalists in Kitui County have protested over the massive destruction of the environment due to uncontrolled sand harvesting.

Led by Kitui Governor Julius Malombe, they expressed regret that the uncontrolled sand harvesting had resulted in environmental degradation in the County.

They were speaking at the Kitui Governor’s office last weekend when members of a task force on sand harvesting and management handed in their report and draft Bill on to the governor.

According to the task force report, uncontrolled large-scale extraction of sand from local streams and rivers had resulted in massive soil erosion, loss of vegetation, water scarcity and pollution at the rivers. – KNA