Concern over location of Naivasha dumpsite

Members of the public, birds and livestock scavenge through garbage at the Naivasha public dump site which is located in Kayole estate. Experts are warning that effluents from the dump site are finding their way into Lake Naivasha. Pix By Antony Gitonga

Experts and stakeholders have raised concern over dangerous chemicals from a nearby dumpsite that could be finding their way into Lake Naivasha.

They warned that the lake's fragile ecosystem could be altered completely if the situation is not arrested.

This came as the county government ruled out relocating the dump-site as planned due to lack of a suitable land and funds for the exercise.

According to Dr Samson Mutua from Sustainable Land Management Unit, there is enough evidence to show that effluents from the dumpsite were finding their way into the lake.

Speaking on Tuesday during a two-day workshop in a Naivasha hotel, Mutua said that heavy rains that pounded the town two weeks ago had washed the chemicals into the lake.

"Lake Naivasha is now under a new threat due to effluents from the dumpsite. We identified the dumpsite as the source of the chemicals," he said.

The dumpsite is found on top of a hill and every time it rains, the waste easily washes into the lake.

When contacted on phone, the chairman of the county assembly implementation committee Simon Wanyoike said they plan to fence off the dumpsite and plant trees around it.