‘Hanging gardens’ of Ukambani

By Joe Ombuor

Hanging gardens are not only biblical (the hanging gardens of Babylon). They are right here with us, thanks to gross environmental negligence. The Kenyan version of ‘hanging gardens’ are the direct aftermath of the breakneck growth of the capital, Nairobi and the disease that is eating into every facet of our society today — corruption.

The capital city of four million and growing is built on sand and to some extent; stones harvested or mined in the semi-arid lower Eastern Province to the south. Uninhibited exploitation of sand deposits that retain water in seasonal rivers is fast creating an environmental crisis.

To avert what looks like an impending disaster, the Poverty Eradication Network (Pen) has swung in with community sensitisation that embraces tree planting and training sessions to create environmental awareness at the grassroots.

The intervention is bearing fruits in parts of Ukambani neighbouring Nairobi where sand is the cash cow milked by the poor folks, the commercial middlemen and the cash strapped local authorities with little or no control from the National Environmental Management Authority and Provincial Administration officials.

Deep caves

Prior to the Pen intervention funded by Community Development Trust Fund, sand harvesters in Kakuyuni location that straddles Kangundo and Kathiani Districts across the River Thwake had resorted to sand mining, digging tunnels that left riparian farmlands containing maize, beans and other crops hanging precariously over the holes.

Some of the holes that resemble deep caves run several metres into farmlands, turning into ugly gullies when the weakened earth above them crash during heavy rains. Accidents are common. On August 13, 2009, a cave collapsed killing Charles Nzili, 29, as other miners escaped with serious injuries.

Charles Musyoki, 39, was among the lucky survivors who ran away with their lives when doomsday knocked. "I was positioned towards the mouth of the cave from where I spaded the sand coming from inside on to a mound metres away. The late Nzili and five others were inside. Tons of earth overcame him as others scrambled out to safety with injuries," he narrates tearfully.

As a direct result of sand harvesting, River Thwake has changed its course and today runs through what used to be people’s farms below Kathiani trading centre. Tons of once fertile soils have been swept away, leaving behind barren expanses on which nothing grows.

‘White gold’

Says an affected farm owner Peter Soo Makau: "The new course of the river at Kathiani Bridge was part of my farm where I grew sugar cane and arrow roots. I have lost close to an acre of land since the river changed its course about two years ago due to uncontrolled sand harvesting. Makau’s misfortunes piled up when sand harvesters took to mining the ‘white gold’ that is quickly depleting from the riverbeds. Chunks of his farm hang like the biblical gardens of Babylon.

Besides damaged farmlands, unchecked sand harvesting is weakening bridges. The 50 metre long Thwake River bridge that cost the Government millions of shillings to construct in the 1980s has lost all the sand that once bolstered its foundation. spells.

A Community Based Organisation official Geoffrey Mutua says the environmental disaster looming in sand harvesting would be averted if some of the money accruing from it was ploughed into environmental conservation. "Machakos County Council makes Sh20, 000 a month from each lorry that carries away sand per month. It is a pity the council only watches as the industry evolves into an environmental catastrophe," he laments.