Effects of the ongoing rains have started to be felt around Lake Naivasha with water levels rising and spilling into nearby estates.
As a result, communities living around the lake have been placed on high alert with several houses in the sprawling Kihoto estate already submerged in water.
In the last couple of weeks, the lake’s catchment area in the Aberdares recieved heavy rains with projections that this would continue in the coming weeks.
According to Enock Kiminta, the National Chairman National Water Resource Users Association (NAWARUA), water levels in the lake were rising by the day.
He noted that the levels had risen from 1889.40m above sea level in December to 1889.79 with indications that the levels could rise further.
He identified the most affected estates as Kihoto, Manera and several small-scale farms which had encroached on the riparian land.
“The full effects of the ongoing heavy rains have started to be felt in Naivasha with some houses in Kihoto already flooded and things will get worse in the coming days,” he said.
Kiminta said all those who had encroached on the riparian land should move to safer areas.
“The lake is reclaiming its boundaries and we are calling on those on the riparian land to voluntarily move out as nature is very unforgiving,” he said.
He added that all major rivers and tributaries were now flowing into the lake due to the intensity of the rains.
Chairman of Friends of Lake Naivasha Francis Muthui noted that farmers and investors who had encroached on the riparian land were now feeling the effects of the rains.
He said that a survey around the lake had established that some small-scale farmers who were cultivating on the riparian land had been affected by the rise in water levels.
“We had seen an upsurge in the number of structures around the riparian land but with the rising water levels, the owners will have to move out,” he said.
Muthui further warned that the rise in water levels could lead to a rise in cases of human-wildlife conflict with pasture lands around the lake flood.
Three years ago, over 3,000 people were displaced after the lake burst its banks but the families returned to their homes after the levels subsided despite warning from the government.
