By Chrispory Juma
Historians say that Lake Victoria is 400,000 years old and over this period, it has dried up four times, the most recent being 17,000 years ago. A visit to the lakeside anytime now would tempt you to feel that the lake is most likely to dry up again in our generation when we have the manpower, technology and capital to thwart any attempt that would endanger the existence of a lake which is not only the pride of Africa but also a source of livelihoods to millions of people in the East African Community.
Historians say that Lake Victoria is 400,000 years old and over this period, it has dried up four times, the most recent being 17,000 years ago. A visit to the lakeside anytime now would tempt you to feel that the lake is most likely to dry up again in our generation when we have the manpower, technology and capital to thwart any attempt that would endanger the existence of a lake which is not only the pride of Africa but also a source of livelihoods to millions of people in the East African Community.
The
Lake has become grossly infested with Water Hyacinth weeds, which have
virtually turned the fresh water into a green zone. The water has turned green
with other weeds also taking the opportunity to turn the once beautiful lake
into a plantation. This is inspite of the government's awareness of the real
dangers this weed poses to the lake. I also add my voice as a resident of Homa
Bay and an investor who depends on the lake to question what the various
governmental and non-governmental agencies are doing towards saving the lake. Why
the silence. Is it possible that you have abandoned the dependants on the lake?
Is it a question of lost hope? Is the silence justified? Can this silence be
owed to squandery of money meant for conserving and managing the lake’s
resources?
Can
this problem be a pointer to the bigger picture of management of disasters in
Nyanza where even donors are worried of usage of disaster prevention and
management funds? Lots of money has been poured into the weed’s control with
many interventions tried out.
There are two ways of looking into the weed, as a burden or as a resource. But all of them are geared towards one objective: to eradicate it. A number of governmental and non-governmental agencies have been created to deal with this menace. Is it true to say that we have given up on all these and therefore resorted to sitting back as the lake is eaten away?
There are two ways of looking into the weed, as a burden or as a resource. But all of them are geared towards one objective: to eradicate it. A number of governmental and non-governmental agencies have been created to deal with this menace. Is it true to say that we have given up on all these and therefore resorted to sitting back as the lake is eaten away?
It
is high time we went back to the drawing board to find a lasting solution to
this menace because with it comes pollution, hampered transport system, eyesore
scenery, reduced aquatic population, poor water supply and better breeding
grounds for malaria-causing mosquitoes. As a resident of Homa Bay town, I will
confirm to you that these effects have become obvious with biting water
shortages, increased mosquito infestation and reduced economic activities on being
the concerns of everyone within the town. Homa Bay is the focal point of all
the beaches in Nyanza, It can no longer be accessed from other beaches.
The
most affected sector of the economy is fishing, which contributes
significantly to the National economy through employment creation, foreign
exchange earnings, recreation and poverty reduction and food security support,
contributing to about 1% of the country’s GDP. I earned us 12 billion Kenyan
shillings in 2009 (2010 Economic Survey). As a fisherman, my boats are rotting as
the people I employed remain jobless.
The weed compounds the many challenges bedeviling the lake. It appears the second largest fresh water lake in the world is under attack. There is continued encroachment on the lake by farmers, discharge of sewage into the lake, silting by incoming river waters and illegal fishing methods. We must re-energies ourselves and reactivate our systems for the protection of Lake Victoria or else its drying up overtime will become a reality in our lifetime again. I call upon the residents around the lake to begin engaging the agencies concerned to find a way-forward over the weed.
The weed compounds the many challenges bedeviling the lake. It appears the second largest fresh water lake in the world is under attack. There is continued encroachment on the lake by farmers, discharge of sewage into the lake, silting by incoming river waters and illegal fishing methods. We must re-energies ourselves and reactivate our systems for the protection of Lake Victoria or else its drying up overtime will become a reality in our lifetime again. I call upon the residents around the lake to begin engaging the agencies concerned to find a way-forward over the weed.
The writer is a Public Health Officer Intern, Ministry of
Public Health and Sanitation, Homa Bay District.
