This archive report was first published on 19 November 2021.
Located in the high hills of the Aberdare Ranges in Nyandarua County, Lake Ol' Bolossat is a vital source of water for thousands of families, a habitat for hippos, and home to over 300 species of birds.
However, the lake's water surface area has reduced dramatically over the past decade, from approximately 10,000 hectares to just 3,000 hectares.
The tourism and hospitality industry in Nyandarua has been severely affected by the lake's degradation, with a significant decline in tourist numbers over the past three years.
According to Joseph Kinyua, a hotel owner in Nyahururu town, the number of tourists has reduced by half in the last three years, making it extremely difficult to invest in the tourism sector.
Climate change, human encroachment, and underground seepage of the lake's waters are cited as the main causes of the lake's reduced surface area.
Experts warn that if stern measures are not taken, the lake will be lost forever.
Nyandarua County Government has blamed locals and other stakeholders for encroaching on the Aberdares Forest and nearby land at the lake, leading to the drying up of small rivers that supply water to the lake.
County leadership has vowed to take immediate action to conserve the lake, including planting trees on its shores and fencing it to prevent human encroachment.
A committee comprising representatives from the National Environmental Management Authority, Nyandarua County government, Ministry of Lands, and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and Wildlife has been formed to chart the way forward and ensure all stakeholders are on the same page.
Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia has promised to woo investors to build hotels at the lakeside to host local and domestic tourists.
Already, two hotels, Kichakani and Samawati, have been put up near the lake.
