Calls to gazette Lake Ol-Bolosat as a National Reserve

This, they said, would help protect and conserve the lake by the County government of Nyandarua.

Governor Dr. Kiarie Badilisha, County Women Representative Faith Gitau and Ol-Kalou Member of Parliament Njuguna Kiaraho want the lake to be gazetted under the Wildlife Act to enable the county government to protect it and generate revenue fully.

Speaking while at the shores of the lake at Karandi area in Ol-Joro Orok Constituency, they noted that this would bring to an end the persistent human-wildlife conflict, where hippos from the lake have been terrorizing residents, sometimes killing or injuring people and livestock and destroying crops.

The approximately 4,800 square kilometres lake is a protected wetland, having been gazetted under the Environmental Act in 2019.

However, the encroachment of its shores and desilting are major challenges that threaten the existence of the only lake in the Central Highlands.

According to Ms Faith Gitau and Ol-Kalou MP Njuguna Kiaraho, the lake had already dried up during the recent drought and hence forced hippos to stray into farmlands and destroy crops.

She added that if properly put to good use, there are bio-deposits at the lake that can be used to make fertilizer.

Her sentiments were echoed by other leaders who now want the government to compensate victims of the human-wildlife conflict.