In a decisive move to combat the rapid depletion of Lake Ol’Bolossat, the Kenyan government recently convened key stakeholders to chart a clear path toward the lake’s recovery. Once a vibrant waterbody and ecological haven on the Kinangop Plateau, this natural lake in Nyandarua County has been shrinking at an alarming rate, with studies showing a loss of nearly 70% of its surface area over recent decades.
The critical state of the lake became most evident during the period between 2023 and 2024, when large portions of the lakebed dried out completely. This drastic reduction has not only endangered the habitat of numerous species including over 800 hippos and a diverse population of more than 300 birds and has also exacerbated conflicts between humans and wildlife as animals encroach on nearby communities in search of resources.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, government leaders, including Principal Secretaries Dr Eng Festus K. Ng’eno (Environment and Climate Change) and Silvia Museiya (Wildlife), spearheaded a high-level meeting in Nairobi. The gathering united officials from various government departments such as the Ministry of Lands, Forestry, Water Resources Authority, NEMA, Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, the National Museums of Kenya, and local authorities from Nyandarua County.
During the meeting, participants reviewed Lake Ol’Bolossat’s deteriorating condition and reaffirmed their commitment to an ambitious restoration agenda anchored in the 2022–2032 Integrated Management Plan, championed by the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Hon. Rebecca Miano.
Experts attributed the lake’s shrinkage to multiple factors: degradation of the catchment area, illegal diversion and extraction of water, land encroachment, pollution, and the mounting pressures of climate change.
Immediate priorities highlighted include remapping and marking the lake’s boundaries to prevent further encroachment, rehabilitating degraded surrounding landscapes, instituting stricter water management policies, and investigating unlawful land claims within the protected wetland.
Key attendees also featured specialists like Patrick Omondi from the Wildlife Research and Training Institute, Karuri Chege of the Lands Department, Caroline Muriuki of NEMA, and representatives from Nyandarua County and local conservation groups.