By ANTONY GITONGA                           

NAKURU, KENYA: Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua has expressed concern over the sharp increase in cases of poaching around Lake Naivasha.

The governor termed as serious the rise in the illegal vice which he said was as a major security threat to major investments around the water body.

“The poachers are becoming sophisticated and are raiding even private sanctuaries killing rhinos and others wildlife due to a demand in wildlife products,” he said.

Mbugua noted that there was an urgent need to address the problem and the illegal fishing in the fresh water body.

He admitted that the lake faced various challenges and praised the Imarisha Naivasha and Lake Naivasha Growers Group (LNGG) for their efforts in conserving the lake.

The governor put on notice investors who had encroached on the riparian land and called for the opening of all access corridors around the water body.

“We are working with development partners to address the issue of sewer and storm water which is polluting the lake,” he said.

Mbugua was addressing the press in Simba Lodge Naivasha during a consultative meeting on Lake Naivasha which was organized by The Imarisha Naivasha board.

On his part, the chairman of the Imarisha board Richard Fox said that the workshop was meant to come up with a road map on conserving the lake.

Fox said that the road map would address issues of the riparian land, access roads to the lake, poaching, pastures and water for pastoralists.

“This meeting has brought together various stakeholders and various challenges facing Lake Naivasha will be addressed,” he said.

Nakuru County Commissioner Mohammed Birik termed Lake Naivasha as an important body to the country’s economy.

Birik said that all communities should benefit from the lake warning that conflicts increased during dry seasons.

He added that deforestation in the catchment area was leading to siltation and called for concerted efforts to conserve water towers.

“At the moment we are experiencing drought in parts of the country and I call on those around the lake to accommodate the pastoralists by giving them access to water,” he said.