Kisumu, Kenya—Kisumu County has drawn a red line on the unchecked exploitation of its natural resources, with Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o announcing a sweeping crackdown on sand and murram harvesting that has left a trail of environmental destruction across key regions including Kajulu, Nyakach, and Miwani. The governor decried the growing ecological damage caused by rogue extractors, warning that their activities are eroding farmlands, damaging rural roads, destabilizing fish breeding grounds, and triggering social fallout such as school dropouts and property loss. Far from a local nuisance, this exploitation threatens the broader livelihood of communities that depend on the very ecosystems now being pillaged.
Nyong’o outlined a tougher enforcement regime, invoking multiple laws including the Environmental Management and Coordination Act and Kisumu County’s own extraction guidelines. Offenders will now face stiff penalties, legal prosecution, and mandatory land restoration. Yet beyond enforcement, the governor emphasized a vision rooted in sustainable stewardship. With Kisumu’s mineral wealth spread across all eight sub-counties, the county is partnering with the State Department of Mining to regulate artisanal operations through proper Environmental Impact Assessments. The message is clear: Kisumu’s natural resources are not up for grabs—they are to be managed, protected, and harnessed for the people, not depleted for profit.
