Sh400m set aside to revive drying Lake Kamnarok

Baringo County Tourism Officer Titus Amdany shows a gulley that is draining water from Lake Kamnorok, an ox-bow lake in Baringo County.  The county is set to spend Sh400 million to rehabilitate the national reserve that has in the past been a tourist attraction site and a home to hundreds of flora and fauna.  [PHOTO: KEVIN TUNOI/STANDARD]

By SILAH KOSKEI

Baringo County has set aside Sh400 million to rehabilitate Lake Kamnarok, which is drying up due to climate change and human activity.

The funds are set to revamp the national reserve that is depended on by hundreds of animals and birds, which died while others relocated due to dwindling water over the years.

Baringo County executive member in charge of tourism Wesley Keitany said the cash would be disbursed for five years in order to improve the lake and boost revenue in the region.

Mr Keitany added that the lake, which is 87 square kilometres, is currently drying up due to human invasion and climate change.

There is also a long stretch of crevices on the lake.

“The lake has continued to dry up and the county has plans to revamp it to become a tourist attraction and a source of income and asset meant to benefit the county,” he said.

The minister said the lake is under threat of extinction due to water loss via Kiptilit outlet and the drying of major tributaries, thus posing a huge challenge to the once famous reserve.

He said the funds would be used to create awareness on the importance of the national reserve to residents as well as de-silting the lake to improve its standard and therefore attract tourists and investors.