State bans farming, construction around endangered Lake Naivasha

A section of  Lake Naivasha. (Photo:Standard)

By Antony Gitonga                                  

Naivasha, Kenya: The government has now outlawed cultivation or construction of permanent structures around Lake Naivasha or feeder rivers supplying water to the water body.

In a move seen to be targeting flower farmers, the ministry of water and irrigation warned that no one should grow horticultural crops or dispose-off effluent on the riparian land.

This follows the gazettement of Lake Naivasha catchment protection area, Lake Naivasha Groundwater conservation area and the Lake Naivasha water reserve orders.

Under the three orders, those planting exotic species, excavating soil or rock and constructing green houses have been directed to seek approval from Water Resources Management Authority.

“No person shall till or cultivate, clear indigenous trees or other vegetations or irrigate within Lake Naivasha and the feeder rivers’ riparian land,” reads the order.

The water order has further directed all land owners within the protected order to, within one year, uproot all eucalyptus trees.

Those contravening the new rules risks a fine of Sh50,000 or an imprisonment not exceeding of six months or both.

Development

According to the director of Water Resources John Rao Nyaoro, the new rules would help regulate water users in the region.

Nyaoro noted that the rules were meant to protect the environmental needs, economic development and social well being of the residents.

This was contained in an invitation letter to various stakeholders for the launch of the rules in KWS Training school Naivasha on Wednesday.

He noted that the government already has initiatives aimed at improving the water resource quality in the country.

On water use, the news rules directed every water user in the region should make sure that all water abstraction points had meters.

“Every water user in the protected area shall be required to submit on monthly basis records of total water abstracted,” notes the rules.

For years, there has been concern over the use of the riparian land and water from the troubled lake.

Currently there are flower farms cultivating on the riparian land while other investors have encroached the area and blocked the 18 corridors leading to Lake Naivasha.