Elgeyo Marakwet government has announced an ambitious plan to rehabilitate Lake Kamnarok.
Water and Environment executive Jason Lagat said plans are underway to reverse threats facing the lake.
He said his administration will work closely with Baringo county to rehabilitate the 87.3 square kilometre lake, which borders Rimoi National Game Reserve.
“Lake Kamnarok is facing extinction due to the silt going downstream. We are encouraging our people on the escapement to ensure that we have many conservation activities," Lagat said.
"One of the strategies we will undertake is to build buffer zones."
In March, there were reports that 10,000 crocodiles had died in the lake after it dried out.
The environment boss said indigenous trees will be planted around the lake to protect it.
“We will plant specific species of trees on the buffer zones. We have already put our focus on coffee because it does very well," he said.
Lake Kamnarok has over the years been a national tourist attraction, it has hosted more than 1,500 rare white crocodiles.
The crocodiles were the second largest population of reptiles in the world after Lake Chad.
Today, the lake is a pale shadow of its past.
Human activities, such as illegal logging and haphazard cultivation upstream, have seen the size of the lake shrink at an alarming rate.
Lagat said the county has appointed a committee to deal with some of the challenges facing the lake.
“We are in agreement with county assembly through the sectoral committee on water, environment and climate change that they will push the agenda through the assembly for implementation,” he said.
Lagat said the county will work closely with National Environment Management Authority to enforce environmental laws.
Among the laws set for enforcement is the 30 by six metre rule on catchment areas, wetlands and rivers.
He said for the lake to regain its lost glory, the county will work closely with partners in environment to plant the right species of indigenous trees.
“There is a donor who would like to restore Lake Kamnarok back to its lost glory. We would want to work with the donor very closely and do serious embankments to stop siltation in the lake,” Lagat said.
Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo counties will have to play key roles to rehabilitate the lake.
“As Elgeyo Marakwet, we will ensure that our people do not destroy vegetation because when you do an aerial view today, you will see vegetation is on our side," he said.
He praised the Kenya Forest Service for stepping in and enforcing forest laws.
