Lake Kenyatta, the largest freshwater body in Lamu County, has become a focal point for both leisure and livelihood for over 60,000 residents of Mpeketoni and its environs. The lake is not only a source of drinking water and domestic use but also supports irrigation farming and livestock watering.
However, recent years have seen the lake’s status threatened by various challenges. The latest concern involves young party-goers who have been treating the lake’s surroundings as a playground, leading to environmental degradation.
David Muiga, the Chairman of the Lake Kenyatta Water Resource Users Association (LKWRUA), expressed his disappointment with the youth’s behavior. Parties often end with the misuse of the surrounding forests and bushes as makeshift lodging, leaving behind evidence of their revelry, including used condoms found in the nearby thickets.
Muiga called for responsible behavior from the visitors, urging them to maintain the cleanliness of the lake and respect the environment. “We ask those who come to the lake, whether on weekends or during the week, to be civilized and well-prepared. They must preserve the purity of our lake and not misuse the small forest here. We emphasize that they should come with discipline and respect for our lake and the public at large,” he stated.
Benson Kariuki, the Chairman of the Lake Kenyatta Water Users Association (LAKWA), echoed Muiga’s sentiments, criticizing the youth for endangering the aquatic life in the lake. According to Kariuki, who is also the secretary of LKWRUA, waste such as nylon, plastic bags, food containers, and condoms left by the lakeside often ends up in the water, especially after rainfall, posing a threat to the fish and other aquatic organisms. “The presence of condoms, nylon, or plastic bags in the lake means that the fish there will consume these wastes, leading to harm. People must stop polluting our lake’s environment because of their boundless pleasures,” Kariuki remarked.
The officials have called upon the Lamu County government and the national government to consider installing modern toilets around the lake to provide safe facilities for visitors. They noted that Lake Kenyatta has become an attraction for many families and tourists who spend hours enjoying the scenery.T hey also urged the government to consider promoting tourism in inland areas, not just the white sandy beaches of the Indian Ocean in Lamu Island and beyond. “Many families come to Lake Kenyatta for recreation. Due to the lack of proper infrastructure, including toilets, they end up defecating in the bushes, completely spoiling the lake’s environment. It would be better to build hotels, restaurants, guest houses, and toilets here at Lake Kenyatta. By doing so, youth and families could camp here for two, three, or even a whole week, enjoying the lake’s environment without bothering others,” Kariuki suggested.
The officials also requested immediate strategies to allocate specific waste collection areas around Lake Kenyatta and construct disposal bins to ensure visitors can dispose of their waste properly.
By Newshub