Danger over rising lake water in Naivasha

Birds perch on top of a submerged structure in Lake Naivasha following a sharp rise in water levels in various water bodies in Nakuru County. [Antony Gitonga]

The Water Resources Authority has expressed its concern over the number of structures submerged in water around Lake Naivasha.

With water levels in the lake rising sharply due to the ongoing rains, the authority noted that the structures mainly belonging to flower farms posed a danger to the ecosystem.

According to the Naivasha sub-regional manager Geoffrey Mworia, majority of the structures were permanent and many of them were now under water.

Speaking after visiting the lake at the weekend, Mr Mworia said that they had written to organisations whose structures were submerged to take action.

“We have done a survey around the lake and we have noted with concern the high number of structures submerged in water,” he said.

The senior officer added that they had given the owners a 14-day notice to remove the structures or face legal action.

“In some of the cases, pump houses that use diesel are already in water and this is a major threat,” he said.