Mvurya faults dredging of Diani Beach, terms it illegal

Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya has protested the ongoing sea dredging exercise in Diani Beach as illegal.

He stated that his administration was opposed to the dredging which continues to endanger marine life and threatens the tourism industry in the area.

Furthermore, Kwale County government was never involved in the whole process, there was no public participation and neither was there an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) done, as demanded by law.

“Kenya Ports Authority which is carrying out the exercise never consulted, engaged or involved us. The exercise is illegal. It threatens to destroy the marine environment, destroy the livelihoods of hundreds of our fishermen whose catch has increasingly dwindled since the exercise started some two months ago, and we shall therefore oppose it,” he said.

He said the exercise is spoiling Diani Beach which was voted Africa’s best destination for five years consecutively, and damages the whole marine ecosystem thereby affecting the much valued Blue Economy.

Governor Mvurya said his government will write protest letters to relevant agencies like the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema) and KPA among others.