Thousands of Mwingi Residents at Risk as Illegal Sand Harvesting at Kwa-Ndumbo Threatens Tyaa River

Thousands of Mwingi Residents at Risk as Illegal Sand Harvesting at Kwa-Ndumbo Threatens Tyaa River.

Mwingi — Thousands of residents in Mwingi are facing the grim prospect of hunger and thirst as the Kwa-Ndumbo in Tyaa River, their primary water source, is rapidly drying up due to rampant illegal sand harvesting.

"The Tyaa River is the lifeline for countless families, supplying potable water not only to rural homesteads but also to Mwingi town itself. Beyond domestic use, the river supports the livelihoods of local farmers who rely on its waters for small-scale irrigation of vegetables and fruits — critical sources of both income and nutrition" said Hon Kivoto speaking to reporters in Mwingi Town.

Several community boreholes tapping into the river are reportedly drying up, further deepening the water crisis. Yet, despite the evident threat, local leaders have remained conspicuously silent, raising suspicions that many might have been compromised or are reluctant to confront powerful interests behind the illicit activity.

Attempts to introduce legislation to regulate sand harvesting in Kitui County have so far failed to stem the illegal extraction. Locals express frustration that laws have not been effectively enforced, allowing environmental degradation to continue unchecked.

"The river is our only source of water. If our leaders will not act, we are ready to protect it ourselves," said a local resident who requested anonymity, signaling rising tensions and potential community unrest.

Repeated efforts to contact county officials for comment have been unsuccessful, with calls going unanswered. 

This silence adds to growing anxiety about who will ultimately take responsibility for addressing the crisis.

The community’s calls for urgent intervention grow louder by the day, warning that failure to act could precipitate a humanitarian disaster in Mwingi. 

With livelihoods and basic survival at stake, it remains to be seen who will "bell the cat" and halt the destruction of the Kwa-Ndumbo Tyaa River before it is too late.