Fishermen and ecotourism operators in Naivasha have been told to be wary of strong winds that have been sweeping across Lake Naivasha in the last one week.
The winds have left fishermen counting losses running into thousands of shillings after their nets were swept away by the invasive water hyacinth weed. Some of the boats have also been crushed by acacia trees.
Projections by the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) indicate that the country will from this month receive heavy rains like those recorded during the El Niño of 2006 and 1997.
Lake Naivasha Boat Owners Association chairman David Kilo said they have not recorded such strong winds for a very long time.
He said the afternoon winds make it impossible to venture into the lake that puts food on the table for more than 200 fishermen and ecotourism boat operators.
“We are calling on boat operators, including fishermen, to be very careful when venturing into the lake mainly in the afternoon as the winds are capable of capsizing a boat,” Kilo warned.
He said the winds were pushing water hyacinth from one part of the lake to the other in the process destroying fishing nets.
Kilo said the last time the lake witnessed such a phenomenon was in 2006 when the country recorded El Niño rains that left a trail of destruction and losses.
“The winds could lead to a drop in fish catch due to the destruction of the nets but we are happy that the lake levels have started rising due to heavy rains in the catchment area,” he said.
Naivasha has in the last one week recorded heavy rains, leading to the death of one person and destruction of property.
In Kinungi on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, residents were left counting losses after goats, sheep and chicken were swept away by floods after heavy rains. Farms were also flooded.
Local leader James Kabono said hailstorms left a trail of destruction.
He said the rains were a blessing in disguise as they had proven to the non-believers that the expected El Niño rains were a reality and could cause massive destruction.
“The heavy downpour saw some families lose their livestock and it’s time to take stock and prepare for the expected heavy rains,” he said.
