Karuna Hill in Moiben isFacing Serious Environmental Threat

 


Karuna hill in Karuna-Meibeki ward in Uasin Gishu County is a vital natural landmark. Known for its red murram, this hill has become a silent workhorse in the county’s push to improve rural road infrastructure.
But beneath the surface of that progress lies a growing crisis: the unchecked quarrying of Karuna Hill is threatening to flatten it entirely, turning a once-beautiful and ecologically important feature into a gaping scar on the landscape.
Although the land under which the hill lies in is private, under Kenyan law, owning land does not give you the right to destroy natural features like hills, rivers, forests, or wetlands. These are protected for the public good, today and for future generations.
The Constitution of Kenya (2010) guarantees every person the right to a clean and healthy environment. It also obligates the government and citizens to protect natural resources and sensitive ecosystems.
Laws like the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) and the Water Act (2016) require landowners and developers to get approvals from bodies like NEMA and the Water Resources Authority (WRA) before making any major changes to the environment. This includes activities like:
  • Flattening a hill
  • Starting a quarry
  • Diverting or blocking a stream
  • Clearing forest or bushland
Even private land is subject to environmental safeguards. For example, riparian land (the area next to a river or stream) is protected and cannot be interfered with. Similarly, landscapes like Sergoit Hill, if ecologically or culturally significant, deserve protection regardless of who owns the title deed.
So if anyone tries to destroy Sergoit Hill or interfere with a river’s natural flow, they can face legal consequences, including fines, court action, and public protest.
The big question, why is Karuna hill being destroyed when the laws of the land is clear? The County Government of Uasin Gishu, the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), and local communities should immediately come together and protect Karuna Hill from further destruction. Progress must not come at the cost of permanence. Roads can be rebuilt. A hill cannot.

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