Environmentalists raise alarm over grabbing, subdivision of land near lake

Lake Naivasha's water levels have risen, flooding nearby estates and flower farms. [Antony Gitonga, Standard]

Environmentalists around Lake Naivasha have raised concern over the demarcation of a parcel of land previously identified as riparian land.

They have warned that subdivision of the land poses a major threat to the troubled ecosystem around the water body, whose water levels are falling at a worrying rate.

"We have called the National Land Commission and even the area security team over the move to grab the parcel of land, but no one is willing to intervene," said chairman of Lake Naivasha Water Resource Users Association (LANAWRUA), Enock Kiminta.

Mr Kiminta said the grabbed tract of land has already been sub-divided into plots, with some parts being utilised for logging and others small-scale farming.

The chairman noted that the planned developments on the riparian land would have adverse effects on the already troubled lake.