The government has sent a strong warning on people who illegally
acquired land next to wetlands and other water bodies that they will
soon be evicted to pave way for rehabilitation.
National Environmental Management Authority Director-General Dr Muusya
Mwinzi directed that all wetlands be identified, profiled and a
datebase be developed to streamline their management once they are
gazetted as protected areas.
Other areas enjoying protected status in Kenya include security
installations like army barracks, police stations, government
buildings and state houses among others that enable them to be given
round the clock security.
The director directed NEMA officials at the provincial and district
levels to immediately enforce the stringent regulations gazetted last
year that bar investors from putting up businesses next to wetlands
and bars farmers from cultivating next to water bodies.
Dr Mwinzi in a speech delivered on his behalf by NEMA
director-in-charge of Environmental Planning and Research
Co-ordination, Mr Kennedy Ondimu, said management plans were being
prepared for Lake Jipe and Sabaki Estuary.
The director made the remarks when he launched the Lake Ol Bolosat
Management Plan which empowers formation of a committee to oversee
rehabilitation and eviction of people settled on the lake's riparian
land.
The move by the DG might not go down well with senior government
officials in the Lands Ministry who were instrumental in allocating
land to people around the lake without consultation with the district
environmental committee.
Despite objections by NEMA that the 10,000hectare riparian land had
been earmarked for conservation and establishment of a game reserve
the lands ministry went ahead to allocate land to people thereby
depleting the land to less than 3,700hectares.
Dr Mwinzi said that sustainable use of wetlands and other water bodies
would be enahcned to ensure it helps in resolving conflict among users
of water along the rivers on a long term basis.
Ol Kalou MP Erastus Muriithi, Nyahururu Mayor Peter Thiari and Ol
Kalou Town Council chairman Mr Mwangi Nyaga opposed blanket eviction
of settlers insisting that those with genuine titledeeds be
compensated with alternative land.
The leaders lamented that continued abstraction of water had caused
deaths downstream in East Pokot and Samburu due to scramble for the
few watering points.
Dr Mwinzi said plans were underway to source for funds to fence off
the conservation area once beacons are identified and a road
constructed linking Aberdare National Park, Lake Ol Bolosat and
Thomson Falls.
Lake Ol Bolosat, the only lake in Central Province enjoys
international status as an important breeding site for birds and is
also home to about 300 hippos besides being a pastures of last resort
for pastoralists from Samburu, Nakuru, Narok and Kajiado districts.
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