Nakuru wastewater crisis chokes lake ecosystem

 

The carcass of a buffalo at the shores of Lake Nakuru. [File, Standard]

Nakuru County is among the fastest-developing regions within the country. Despite rapid population and infrastructure growth, its sanitation systems remain in a dire state.

The poor sanitation has had a direct impact on one of the region’s most vital ecosystems, Lake Nakuru.

As Nakuru city expands, its sanitation infrastructure continues to struggle to keep pace. Previous reports have linked the disappearance of flamingos from the lake to these sanitation challenges.

Untreated wastewater and urban runoff flow into Lake Nakuru, carrying pollutants that disrupt the water’s natural alkalinity balance.

Combined with rising water levels in the lake, these chemical changes have contributed to a sharp decline in flamingo populations over the years.

By 2025, only 25 per cent of households in Nakuru Town were connected to the sewer network, with limited coverage in areas such as Milimani, Langa Langa, London, City, Racecourse and Freehold estates.

A significant number of estates remain unconnected, including Bismarck, the Kenya Industrial Training Institute (KITI) area, Kiamunyi and Ranges View, leaving many residents still undeserved.

Households in these areas rely on septic tanks, which are emptied by exhausters once full.

However, even in estates linked to the system, most are served by an ageing sewer network that is prone to frequent leakages. A recent report released in March this year at the World Ocean Summit in Tokyo, Japan, shows that only 11 per cent of wastewater in Kenya receives adequate treatment.

The report highlights a staggering infrastructure gap, where most sewage ends up in the environment, creating a cycle of contamination that affects all levels of society. “The systems are underdeveloped, such that around 15 million people are exposed to contaminated drinking water every year,” the report states.

Families are left vulnerable to waterborne diseases, ranging from mild infections to severe and life-threatening conditions. The resulting strain on the healthcare system is great, with hospital admissions, medical expenses and lost productivity costing the Kenyan economy about $67 million (Sh8.6 billion) annually. 

The report also notes that Kenya loses Sh1.6 billion ($13 million) each year in the fisheries sector due to polluted waterways.

In response, Bio Tank Africa has introduced a biodigester in Nakuru County aimed at improving sanitation and complementing overstretched septic systems and inadequate sewer infrastructure.

According to the company’s founder, Edwin Kirugo, Bio Tank Africa manufactures and supplies affordable sanitation solutions for households and developers across Kenya.

He described a bio tank biodigester as a biological septic tank that breaks down waste in an ecological way, using naturally occurring bacteria to digest waste matter. “It has catalytic bio enzymes that treat itself, allowing clean and environmentally friendly water to be disposed of through its outlet,” said Kirugo.

He added that the tank has three chambers designed to ensure the sanitation process is efficient and safe and it is also affordable.

“You do not need any training; you just have to install it in your compound and you do not need to empty it,” he said.

Speaking during the launch last week, Kirugo said that despite Nakuru’s construction and housing sector growing at 5.5 per cent annually, fewer than four in every 100 residents are connected to a sewerage system.

He added that over 65 per cent of human waste goes untreated and with limited sewer connectivity, most households rely on on-site sanitation systems.

“When these systems are poorly designed or poorly managed, they contribute to environmental pollution, disease outbreaks and huge economic losses through healthcare costs and reduced productivity,” he said.

He noted that while the government continues to invest in infrastructure, demand for improved sanitation is growing faster than existing systems can keep up.

Dr Nelson Maara, the County Executive Committee Member for Water, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, has admitted that the county is grappling with a serious sanitation challenge. He noted that the poor sewer system has contributed to pollution in Lake Nakuru, affecting aquatic life in the ecosystem.

“Residents suffer from cholera and typhoid; if not controlled, this may lead to loss of life. It is the right time for the county to partner with this company to offer sanitation solutions,” said Maara.

He further pointed out that while water provision in the county has surpassed 60 per cent, sanitation coverage in Nakuru stands at just above three per cent.

Maara reminded residents that the loose and porous soils, shaped by volcanic activity and fault lines, make it easier for waste from pit latrines to seep into underground water sources, leading to contamination.

Nakuru East MCA Anthony Kamau noted that most residents in informal settlements within Nakuru rely on water from wells, which are at risk of contamination due to poor sanitation systems.

“Residents live dangerously because, with the porous soil, waste contaminates underground water, which residents consume, causing diseases,” he said.

He further observed that the county has many emerging residential areas lacking adequate sanitation infrastructure, warning that without private sector intervention, the government could be overwhelmed.