Stop dredging in Diani Beach, plead hoteliers

Tourism players have warned that the harvesting of sand in the sea off Diani Beach might deal a big blow to the ailing sector in Kwale County.

Last Friday, Kwale County Government placed an advertisement in the Nation, expressing concern that the world-famous beach might lose its top rating if the national government did not stop a foreign vessel from dredging the seabed off Diani Beach for sand.

Governor Salim Mvurya said the vessel, christened Si Hang Cai Sha1, had been harvesting the sand since October last year. The sand is to be used in the construction of the standard gauge railway.

“Stop the needless destruction of Diani Beach as it belongs to all Kenyans,” Mr Mvurya said in the advert.

ON ITS KNEES

On Monday, County Tourism Executive Adan Sheikh warned that the harvesting might deal a further blow to the tourism industry which is almost on its knees.

Last year, Diani Beach was voted Africa’s leading destination by the World Travel Awards because of its pristine state and efforts by residents and hoteliers to protect the marine environment. Early this year, the beach was also voted among the 25 best beaches in the world.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Coast branch vice-chairman Silas Kiti said the dredging of sand off Diani Beach had far-reaching consequences.

When contacted, National Environment Management Authority’s county director Mr George Oyoo said Nema stopped sand harvesting off Diani Beach in September last year.

This was because the firm which was harvesting sand for the construction of the standard gauge railway had not complied with environment rules, Mr Oyoo told the Nation.

“We discovered that the firm which was harvesting sand off Diani beach had not conducted an environmental impact assessment contrary to environmental laws,” he said.