Born in 1989 at Nzovuni in Kinango Sub-county, County executive member for environment and Natural resources Saumu Beja Mahaja 33 years is worth 19.2 million.
Beja is master’s degree in environmental science holder from Pwani University, bachelors of Science degree in environmental studies from Kenyatta University and a former Mwasere Girls secondary school student.
During the first former Kwale governor Salim Mvurya second administration she served as the executive member for environment and natural resource from 2017.
According to County assembly appointment committee report that was approved recently, Beja said that she has laid down plans to curb unplanned urban development by developing Diani and Kwale municipal charters in 2020.
In July 2021, she said that the county assembly approved LungaLunga-Kinango municipal charters which have their own zonal plans to control unplanned development.
Currently, she said that automation process for approval of building plans to ensure ease of compliance is going on.
Soon she said those found letting their animal to loiter within town centers will be on the receiving end once municipal council’s by-laws being crafted are ready.
Acquiring of noise meters to tame noise pollution is part of her plans, which she said her department is working with NEMA to address through municipal by-laws.
Charcoal burning
On matters of environmental degradation brought up by charcoal burning, she said her office is working on addressing the issue of absentee landlord. She said that a lot of charcoal burning activities takes place on idle land that is owned by absentee landlords. To address the issue, Mahaja said land management legislation is the best option. Apart from that, more enforcement officers will be added to her department to ensure laws on charcoal burning are adhered to.
