By Ziro Moses -EAWLS

Lake Ol bolo ssat, the only lake in Central Province of Kenya  and one of the few highland lakes in the world, had its management plan launched on the 26^th February 2010. Celebrations were held at Manguo Open grounds on the outskirts of Nyahururu town.

The celebrations were presided over by Mr. Robert Njue, Assistant Director Kenya Wild Life Service Aberdare Conservation area, representing the Director of  Kenya Wildlife Service. Other dignitaries present included the area Member of Parliament, Hon. Erastus Mureithi , Peter Theuri, Mayor Nyahururu Muncipal Council, District Commissioners from Nyandarua North, Nyandarua West and Nyahururu districts. The East African Wild Life Society was represented by Mr. Richard Rono, on behalf of the Executive Director, Mr. Nigel Hunter.

The celebrations started with a procession from the Nyahururu Social Hall, through the Nyahururu town centre to Manguo open grounds, next to the Ewaso Narok river, followed by tree planting by the guests, exbitions, entertainment and speeches. Speaker after speaker emphasized the need to reclaim the lake back and restore its lost glory. The lake ,besides providing water to many communities in Central, Eastern and Rift Valley provinces, also provide essential services such as habitat for endemic and endangered bird species, hippos and a fall back grazing area during prolonged drought. However, the lake faces numerous threats stemming from urban development, excessive abstraction of water from rivers and streams feeding into the lake, intensive agriculture and eucalyptus plantations within its riparian land as well as its catchment area.

The management plan, therefore, addresses these concerns and puts measures and responsibility centres to address them.

The celebrations ended with a visit to Suera Flower Farm owned by the Hon. Mureithi where both the invited guests and community members visited the artificial wetlands within the farm. The wetlands draw water from the flower farms and are used for fish farming before being released to recharge Lake Ol Bolo ssat.

The celebrations were organized by a local committee in the area chaired by Mr. Moses Ziro of the Kenya Wetlands Forum/East African Wild Life Society, with membership drawn from National Environmental Management Authority (Laydia Karanja), Kenya Wildlife Service (Dominic Kilonzo), Water Resources Management Authority (Rahab Nyururu) and Lake Ol bolo ssat Conservation Network (Isaack Kairu, Paul Kiarie and Fatuma Karanja).