What was the challenge?
Rivers in Kenya's dryland counties provide water for domestic use, livestock, agriculture and local ecosystems. They are also an important source of construction sand, creating livelihoods for many households. In Makueni County, increasing demand for sand resulted in widespread and often unregulated extraction from riverbeds. Communities reported declining river flows, damaged riparian areas, increased soil erosion and growing competition over access to sand resources. While sand harvesting supported local incomes, the absence of a clear regulatory framework made it difficult to balance economic activities with environmental conservation.
What did CESPAD do?
Recognising that these challenges required both community ownership and institutional action, CESPAD supported a participatory process to strengthen governance of sand resources as part of the Promoting Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Kenya project. Rather than advocating for restrictions in isolation, the project facilitated dialogue among county government departments, the Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA), Water Resource Users Associations (WRUAs), community representatives and other stakeholders to examine the environmental and socio-economic impacts of sand harvesting and identify practical regulatory options.
The consultation process provided opportunities for different stakeholder groups to contribute their perspectives. Communities shared experiences of river degradation and changing water availability, while technical institutions provided evidence on catchment management and sustainable resource use. These discussions informed the work of a county task force established to guide the development of legislation on sand conservation and utilization. The process reflected the principles of Integrated Water Resources Management by bringing together environmental, social and economic considerations within a common policy framework.
What was produced?
The outcome of this collaborative process was the enactment of the Makueni County Sand Conservation and Utilization Act, 2015, which established a legal framework for regulating sand harvesting within the county. The legislation sought to improve oversight of sand extraction while promoting sustainable management of river ecosystems and providing greater clarity on institutional roles and responsibilities.
What changed?
Beyond the enactment of the legislation, the process strengthened collaboration between county institutions and community-based organisations involved in natural resource management. Water Resource Users Associations and local communities participated in discussions that informed policy development, reinforcing the role of public participation in county governance. The experience also demonstrated how evidence generated through community engagement can contribute to legislative processes addressing complex environmental challenges.
What did we learn?
The development of the Sand Conservation and Utilization Act illustrates the value of participatory policy-making in natural resource governance. Environmental challenges that involve competing social and economic interests require governance approaches that combine technical evidence, community knowledge and institutional coordination. By facilitating dialogue among stakeholders and supporting the policy development process, CESPAD contributed to the establishment of a county legal framework that provides a basis for more sustainable management of sand resources and the river ecosystems on which communities depend.