Environment
Environmentalists in Nakuru County have called on concerted efforts to rehabilitate the riparian land around River Njoro, even as illegal loggers destroyed its natural vegetation.
Led by Nakuru County Environment Director, Grace Karanja, the environmentalists, who spearheaded the planting of indigenous trees and cleanup along its river banks, regretted the degradation which had been worsened by cutting down of trees by illegal loggers and small-scale farmers.
Ms Karanja said the devolved unit’s administration was concerned about the willful destruction of riparian land by individuals and businesses.
Speaking after presiding over planting of trees along River Njoro’s banks and a clean-up exercise of the river’s bed and banks Ms Karanja said they would involve other parties in the rehabilitation of the riparian land in the coming weeks.
“We are committed to safeguarding the riparian lands along the Njoro River. Our goal is to work on the 5km stretch of the River Njoro from Ngata/Kerma area in Njoro Sub-County to Mogoon area within Nakuru Town-West Sub-County,” stated the Director.
River Njoro, she explained was critical as it supported the livelihoods of more than one million people, recharges groundwater aquifers and supports biodiversity
Ms Karanja urged the community to protect the source of River Njoro for the sake of Lake Nakuru. “Without protecting this source, it will mean a slow death of Lake Nakuru and this will be disastrous to the country as Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the biggest foreign earners for Kenya,” said the Director
She also indicated that the country government and other stakeholders had also kicked off the process of rehabilitating the riparian land around Lake Naivasha which involves the planting of acacia trees and papyrus.
Individuals who had illegally encroached on riparian land were warned by the Director to voluntarily leave ahead of the rehabilitation exercise.
“We will be working with the Department of Lands to help us identify all the riparian boundaries in the county so that the land can be protected,” Ms Karanja affirmed
She urged farmers to stop encroaching on riparian land and to leave a 30-metre distance between their farms and rivers.
Present were representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), Kenya Water Ambassadors, KENAWRUA, Water Resources Management Authority, Youth Bunge Forum, Water Resources Authority, Kenya Prison, and ward climate change committees.
Ms Karanja said “the protection of water catchment areas and riparian land is crucial for the livelihoods of all Kenyan households. The diminishing levels of water on the planet are due to human activities along the riparian land and the planting of a high number of trees that have a high affinity for water.”
“Our aim as a county government and its partners is to educate farmers on the need to conserve the environment and protect our riparian land. Water levels in our rivers are going down due to farming activities along the rivers,” the Director indicated, observing that Water Service Providers (WSPs) depended on rivers and dams for domestic supply.
She stated that buffer zones are necessary since the environment has continued to be contaminated and destroyed and there is a need for concerted effort to protect the rivers.