If human activities along river Ewaso Nyiro will not be controlled, it will dry and leave around 4 million human and uncountable wild animals that rely on it for livelihood helpless.
The river, has in the recent past seen an increase in water-dependence for large-scale agricultural activities upstream and sand harvesting downstream, which is currently a threat to its ecosystem and aquatic habitation
According to John Chumo, the secretary of the National Environmental Complaints Committee, the time has come to create controls in the activities surrounding the river catchment areas.
Chumo, who visited a sand harvesting site in Achers Post at Isiolo Samburu border, said that sand harvesting needed control measures as it was affecting the water flow downstream.
According to Chumo, farmers upstream have increasingly continued to obstruct the river, which has reduced the volume of water, even to the extent of the river drying up in particular months around the year, which contributes to youths settling into the river channels to harvest sand.
“We want to see the river brought back by ensuring: serious afforestation at the upper catchment areas and riparian sides and also ensure the abstraction of water especially in Laikipia is actually brought to a level that is sustainable. We should also ensure we stop this unsupported sand harvesting,” Mr Chumo said.
Kelvin Lenayasa, the Waso location area chief in Samburu East, urged the government to offer alternative economic activities for over 600 youths who depend on the river through sand harvesting, while the activity has also led to many youth taking illegal brews while doing it.
John Lokopony, an activist from the locality, asked the Samburu county government to spend a section of the money they have been collecting from the sand business to create an alternative source of income for hundreds of youth so that they can leave the river alone to recover.
