A bitter row is brewing between Magarini sand harvesters and transporters over the prices of loading the sand to lorries which is threatening the peace and security of the area.
This is after some transporters rejected a new plan to increase the costs of loading sand and begun dividing the loaders into two separate groups to get cheap labor and easily manipulate them.
Magarini security committee had to intervene to help end the conflict to prevent it from escalating into violence.
Trouble started after some transporters who were not satisfied with the new loading, prices chose to transfer a section of their fleet of lorries to locals so as to help them get cheap labor from their like-minded loaders.
Further, the transporters influenced a section of the loaders to form a new association that would be easily manipulated and work in their favor.
The Security committee meeting was attended by Magarini Member of Parliament Michael Kingi, Assistant County Commissioner Abigael Moloi , Sub County administrator, Chief katana Shilingi officials of the loaders association, and the loaders.
It emerged that a section of the loaders used to work under an umbrella of one association called Mjanaheri Timboni Ngomeni loaders association (MJATINGO) decided to form a splinter association and the Name Ngomeni Garite loaders association.
What angered the leaders of the old association is the fact that their counterparts were being used y transporters to reduce the price of loading.
Sand harvesting is one of the key economic activities depended by locals as it creates job opportunities to hundreds of youths who engage in loading sand in the quarries.
The security committee had to organize two meetings with the two associations so as to hear grievances from both groups and come up with a solution.
Kingi Kalangulo the chairman of Mjatingo said as loaders they came up with a system where loaders are assigned to specific vehicles to ensure smooth operation.
Kalangulo said previously loaders used to travel to wait for the lorries in Malindi or Msumarini along the Malindi Lamu road to come and load them.
He said any investor buying a fleet of lorries the loaders normally assign them to different groups which cannot be tampered with even if the loader is absent his money will be kept for him.
“Previously one had to run to get a vehicle to load so if you could not run fast, it would be difficult to get a chance, somebody could stay for a week without loading, so we came system of numbers where each person is given specific lorries to load which was convenient to all,” he said.
Rodgers Barisa Yesa Secretary MJATINGO said quarry owners are behind all the problems particularly when they are kicked out of leadership of association.
Normally they form new associations aimed at dividing loaders so as to manipulate them adding that previously one person was killed due to the conflicts.
Yesa said when they came up with prices of loading they sat with North Coast Transporters association together with Magarini Sand cooperative society but that time there were not FH Lorries.
He said when the lorries began coming the middlemen resolved they would pay Sh. 1000 to loaders but they came to realize the lorries were not five tonnes as others had 16 tones so they increased the loading fees to Sh. 2000.
“The transporters protested against it claiming that we had increased by 100 percent, we told them in a letter that we had reviewed the price not increased,’ he SAID.
Yesa said semi-trailer costs Sh. 6000 to load sand, canter sh. 1000 and the FH came up due to the tonnage up to sh. 2000.
He said two transporters opposed the move and told them they had private loaders who would load at their own price.
“The system led to the conflict which has not been resolved we urge the government to intervene and resolve it as the two transporters,” he said
since the conflict started the circulation of money has gone down and small business depending on the sand harvesting have been affected
Jacob Gona committee member Mjatingo loaders association said they are being frustrated by a few of their own who are being used by transporters to divide them.
Kahindi Kalume alias Fabish said they have been given over 10 court orders by transporters who are against the increase in pricing.
He urged the MP to intervene and resolve the issue so that the cases are resolved and ensure that the operations go on well.
The MP on his part said there are some people with interests who normally take advantage of the quarry owners and loaders to get the commodity as a cheap price at the expense of the locals.
“I would like to tell you that you are sitting on gold this sand goes to many areas including out of the country but you remain poor,” he said.
Kingi said there should be one price for loading so that all the people benefit instead of reducing prices at the expense of the locals.
The assistant county commissioner on her part called on the loaders to ensure they coexist peacefully so as to benefit from the resource.