A once vibrant famous lake in Kerio Valley, Baringo County is now in the brink of dying. Lake Kamnarok which has been home to several species of plants and animals attracted multitudes of tourists both local and international.
The reverse is seen. The lake is drying, leaving muddy areas that trap animals who frequent the lake for water. Elephants are regular victims. Water hyacinth is another disaster choking the lake.
The situation of the lake triggers several questions; is human activities the main problem? Are the local and national authorities doing enough to save the lake?
The lake needs to be allowed to establish naturally without human intrusion.
We have let the people living around the lake ecosystem carry out their activities as usual without limiting the magnitude and nature of those acts. The lake needs to be allowed to establish naturally without human intrusion. As is the case with Lake Kamnarok, anthropogenic activities seem to be the driving factor to the fast degradation of the lake.
While I blame the human activities around the lake, I think the community needs to be actively involved in the conservation process right from creating awareness, educating the public and implementing the conservation measures.
The lake is a critical resource to the county, especially the tourism sector. Thus, it is the responsibility of the county government to be at the forefront of saving the lake. Basing on the current state of the lake, I think the county government of Baringo is not doing enough to save it. Doing nothing will do no good. With increased global temperatures, the rate of evaporation increases hence intensifying the problem.
It is time we save this lake; a significant number of people and animals depend on it for water; it is a natural habitat for flora and fauna and is a source of revenue.
