Kitui Senator Enoch Kiio Wambua has dismissed what he termed sustained threats and intimidation from alleged sand cartels opposed to his campaign against illegal sand harvesting in the county.
Speaking during three separate burial ceremonies in Kitui West and Kitui Rural constituencies, Senator Wambua said a section of self-styled sand cartels had resorted to threats after feeling the impact of his push to regulate and ultimately end illegal sand harvesting along Kitui’s rivers.
The senator revealed that he has received what he described as barbaric and threatening text messages aimed at coercing him to abandon the initiative. However, he maintained that intimidation would not deter him from pursuing the agenda.
“I have never bought fear, and I will never buy threats. They should find another senator to threaten,” Wambua said, emphasizing that his resolve remains firm.
He noted that the fight against illegal sand harvesting is not a personal crusade but a future-focused agenda aimed at protecting Kitui County’s rivers, sand reserves, and other natural resources from exploitation by a few individuals at the expense of local communities.
Senator Wambua further linked the initiative to his broader leadership vision, saying environmental conservation and responsible resource management form a key pillar of his political agenda.
He added that the matter is among the core issues anchoring his 2027 gubernatorial ambitions, through which he seeks to restore sanity in county leadership, strengthen environmental conservation programs, and promote citizen-centered governance in Kitui County.
