Kenyans planning to build homes or engage in construction activities may soon face higher costs for materials, particularly sand.
This comes after the government introduced new regulations aimed at controlling the harvesting and transportation of sand, a critical resource for construction projects.
On Tuesday, February 18, Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the publication of the Sand Harvesting Regulations, 2024.
These new rules are designed to promote the sustainable use of sand while ensuring environmental protection.
As part of the regulations, anyone wishing to harvest or transport sand will now be required to obtain a permit from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
This includes motorists transporting sand, who must submit a copy of their vehicle logbook and national ID card to NEMA. Once their application is approved, they will be required to pay a fee of Ksh 3,000.
The new guidelines also stipulate that sand harvesting must not exceed a depth of one and a half meters from farms, lakeshores, or seashores. In addition, there must be a buffer zone of at least three meters from neighboring properties to prevent environmental damage.
The regulations further require that sand harvesting be accompanied by efforts to restore the sites from which sand was removed. This restoration process will be guided by a special committee set up by the county government to oversee sand harvesting activities.
To ensure transparency and accountability, any individual selling sand will be required to issue receipts to buyers and maintain proper records. These records will be subject to inspection by the relevant authorities.
The new rules also dictate that sand can only be transported between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. each day. Drivers transporting sand must keep the permit with them while the sand is in transit, ensuring compliance with the law.
According to CS Duale, violations of the regulations will lead to legal consequences. Offenders may face penalties as outlined in section 144 of the Act.
Additionally, all sand dealers will now need to be members of a recognized association, such as a community-based organization, cooperative society, or common object group.
To protect children, the new regulations prohibit minors from participating in sand harvesting or joining related associations and organizations.
Finally, no one will be allowed to harvest sand from rivers, lakes, oceans, farms, or other land without first obtaining a valid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) license from NEMA.
With these new rules in place, it is clear that sand harvesting and transportation will come with additional costs and responsibilities, which could potentially drive up the price of sand and, ultimately, the cost of construction projects across Kenya.
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