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Monday, April 29, 2019
Hoteliers, environmentalists clash with dredger off Diani coast over sand
Philip Mwakio
South Coast's Diani beach Stake holders
protesting aboard a speed boat against a vessel MV Willem Van Oranje
harvesting sand in the Indian Ocean waters at South Coast's Diani Indian
Ocean Waters in Kwale County on Saturday,027th April,2019. [Maarufu
Mohamed, Standard]
Opposition over beach sand harvesting off the award winning Diani Beach,
Kwale County went a notch higher over the weekend after protestors used
powerful outboard engine boats to block a contracted dredger from
scooping sand from under water.
It was a scene reminiscent of protests by Greenpeace activists known to
block huge vessels that carry out whaling activities off the Coast of
Japan sea.
In the Diani incident, hoteliers and marine experts converged at the
historic Kongo Mosque for a protest march before they headed to the sea
in different boats to block the dredger vessel, Mv Whillem Van Oranje.
Hoteliers have joined in calls to oppose the harvesting of sand from the
ocean bed for use in the construction of a Sh40 billion Kipevu Oil
Terminal at the Port of Mombasa.
'' Let it be known that the move is an illegality in the first place.
Diani beach is likey to lose it allure of a clean white sandy beach once
sand is scooped for the Port upgrade works. Let them look elsewhere,''
Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (Kahc) Coast branch
executive officer, Mr Sam Ikwaye said.
Diani beach is home to world acclaimed white sandy beach and is dotted
with star rated resorts and hotels like the five star Diani Reef Beach
Resort and Spa, Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort, Baobab Beach Hotel,
The Sands at Nomads, Leopard Beach Resort and Spa, Swahili Beach and
the Sands at Chale among others.
Apart from hoteliers and marine environmentalists leading the onslaught
to oppose the sand harversting being done on an industrial-scale mining
venture, the Kwale County Government has come out to state that it is
not aware of the sand harvesting and has not authorised it.
According to Kwale County Executive for Land and Environment, Ms. Saum
Beja, they were not even aware of the activity that has been vehemently
opposed by many due to its socio-economic and environmental effects.
Beja claimed they were in the dark as far as the matter was concerned
because either KPA or the National Environment Management Authority
(NEMA) had not consulted them.
“We have no clue of what is happening because neither KPA nor NEMA has
sent us notification in regards to the matter,” she said.
She added that the county government was also against the sea sand
harvesting and had not authorised it. This comes amidst a barrage of
protests by residents and other stakeholders among them fishermen, tour
operators, hoteliers and beach operators.
Last week, more than 200 fishermen and fish vendors from Tiwi in Matuga
Sub-County protested over the sand harvesting, saying it will damage
fish breeding grounds hence push them out of business.
Beja said that they oppose activities by KPA in the region because it
did not follow the correct procedures such as conducting the social and
environmental impact assessment.
“The assessment was done at Kipevu and Port Reitz in Mombasa County yet
these are not the areas the sand is being extracted from. There was also
no consultation with stakeholders many of who rely on the sea for their
livelihoods,” she said, adding that the harvesting is also immensely
affecting aquatic life.
According to her, the county had already written a letter to KPA
expressing its displeasure over the issue which it is yet to be
responded to. She, however, said the county would work with other
stakeholders in resolving the matter even as she challenged NEMA to
ensure a proper environmental impact assessment is carried out in the
area.
Beja also said that the county was never involved in the controversial
compensation of local fishermen who were allegedly paid Sh16 million by
KPA during the construction of phase one of the Kipevu terminal.
KPA came under heavy criticism during its first meeting with local
stakeholders who accused it of engaging in sea sand harvesting in the
county to expand its operations without proper consultations as required
by environmental laws.
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