Experts warn that waste from informal estates and chemical residue from farm fertiliser will damage the lake's ecosystem. It has been flooded following rising water levels in nearby Lake Naivasha Nakuru County Deputy Governor Erick Korir said many rivers have swollen with water covering bridges.
As I mentioned in a previous post, it's not all about Corona here. Lake Naivasha has reached its highest levels ever, flooding nearby estates and flower farms. The government has issued an alert over looming disease outbreaks on Kihoto estate due to flooding of tens of houses following the rise of water levels in nearby Lake Naivasha. A water agency has issued an alert over flooding of flower farms next to Lake Naivasha following a sharp rise in water levels around the troubled water body. It's a mini Kibera.
Kihoto estate in Naivasha. More than 2,000 displaced. The government has issued an alert over looming disease outbreaks on Kihoto estate due to flooding of tens of houses following the rise of water levels in nearby Lake Naivasha… Parts of Kihoto are flooded. May 3, 2020 NAKURU, Kenya May 3 – Residents and motorists near Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha have been been asked to be vigilant on the roads due to the heavy rains that have been pounding the area. When Rift Valley regional coordinator George Natembeya toured development projects in Naivasha, he termed the situation in Kihoto serious, adding that plans were underway to assist the affected families with food and non-food items.“The situation in Kihoto is worrying due to the flooding and this could lead to diseases outbreak and thus the need for the affected families to move out,” he said.Natembeya added that more than 500 landlords who had been left behind were the most affected, noting that the government would assist them.“In the first phase, the government used over Sh2 million to resettle the affected families and we are keen to support those who have not shifted,” he said.On the new multimillion-shilling outpatient wing at Naivasha Subcounty Hospital, Natembeya said it would be completed in eight months.He said that Kengen had contributed Sh300 million while the county government had put in an extra Sh31m towards the construction of the health facility.“We are impressed by the ongoing work in the hospital and once complete the government will provide medical equipment and staff,” he said.Natembeya at the same time put on notice contractors involved in government projects, warning that the state would not entertain delay.“We are warning lazy contractors that the government will not tolerate them and will instead put them behind bars for the delays,” he said.In Kihoto, one of the area leaders Simon Wanyoike said that residents had undergone untold suffering due to the rise in water level.He said hundreds of workers who lost their jobs had been forced to relocate again due to the rising water level that had flooded all structures including latrines.“We fear a disease outbreak in Kihoto due the flooding of latrines and we thank the county and national governments for the support given to these families,” he said.Natembeya says situation in Kihoto is worrying due to flooding and this could lead to diseases outbreak. Water levels in Lake Naivasha have been rising during heavy rains, causing fears that another 4,000 families are likely to be displaced by flooding. Residents urged to move to higher ground.Water levels in Lake Naivasha have been rising during heavy rains, causing fears that another 4,000 families are likely to be displaced by flooding.The government has warned families living near the shores to relocate as rains pound the lake's catchment area.Three months ago, more than 2,000 families mainly from Kihoto estate were forced to relocate due to flooding.The water has not subsided and many houses have been vandalised.Scientists and health experts have warned that waste from flooded estates and fertiliser runoff from flower farms threaten health and the ecosystem.Naivasha subcounty commissioner Mathioya Mbogo said Kihoto Estate, home to hundreds of flower farm workers', was the worst affected.“In the first phase, around 2,000 were displaced by rising water levels and we expect another 4,000 to be affected, causing more problems," he said.Speaking after receiving foodstuffs from Safaricom Foundation to help those hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, Mbogo said that they had started to assist families affected by HIV-Aids.“In the first phase of relief, we had forgotten those living with HIV-Aids and we have already identified 320 families to receive support from the national government," the commissioner said.Thanking Safaricom, he said five informal settlements in the subcounty had been hardest hit by the pandemic, though the Kazi Mtaani initiative has helped many people.Naivasha assistant county commissioner Janet Jawa said job losses in flower farms and hotels had pushed the workers to Lake Naivasha.“Due to the high number of people who lost their jobs in Naivasha, many people have problems feeding their families and this donation helps," she said.Safaricom regional manager Patrick Wanjau said that 280 families would benefit in Naivasha from the latest food donations.He said that Safaricom had raised Sh4 million to buy food and supplies for 2,500 families throughout the country.“Last month Safaricom donated Sh1.5 million PPEs to Nakuru county.Wheelchair-bound Sammy Mbugua called the donation a God-send because people were suffering during the pandemic.4,000 families likely to be displaced by flooding Lake NaivashaThree months ago 2,000 families were displaced and have been unable to return Wheelchair-bound Sammy Mbugua receives food presented by Naivasha subcounty commissioner Mathioya Mbogo and donate by Safaricom Foundation regional manager Patrick Wanjau on August 12.