Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has warned Kenyans against water pollution.
He cried the poor state of lake Nakuru and Naivasha.
Balala cited pollution, poor road network, dilapidated buildings, water abstraction from nearby farms and encroachment of riparian land as some of the major woes facing the lakes.
He cited pollution as one of the main reasons that have seen flamingos in Lake Nakuru relocate to other water bodies thus affecting the number of visitors in the lake saying this spells doom for the tourism sector. He accused the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Nakuru county government of some of the woes facing the two water bodies.
“Lake Nakuru is as good as dead because of massive pollution and on a visit to the park, you are met by buildings submerged in water and tens of dead trees,” he said.
This comes barely a day after Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has put neighboring Kiambu and Nairobi counties on notice over pollution of Athi River.
According to Mutua, the chemicals are intoxicating water in the river endangering lives of the people of Machakos, Makueni, Kitui, Taita Taveta, and Kilifi Counties.
Athi River with a total length of 390 km is the second longest river in Kenya that passes through Machakos county to drain its waters in the Indian Ocean. It remains a major source of water to local residents along its banks especially in the lower parts of Machakos county.