The government has initiated an emergency restoration plan for Lake Ol’Bolossat as water levels plummet to historic lows, threatening to turn the only lake in Central Kenya into a dust bowl.

With the shoreline receding by hundreds of meters and the hippopotamus population facing a habitat crisis, the Ministry of Environment and NEMA have declared the situation a "national ecological emergency." The fresh push involves a multi-agency task force charged with evicting encroachers, blocking illegal diversion canals, and undertaking massive reforestation in the Aberdare catchment area.

An Ecosystem on Life Support

Lake Ol’Bolossat, a vital breeding ground for the Grey Crowned Crane and a lifeline for the Ewaso Nyiro River, is suffocating. Years of unchecked human activity—farming on the riparian land, eucalyptus planting, and direct water abstraction—have compounded the effects of erratic rainfall.

"We are watching the lake die," said Environment CS during a tour of Nyandarua County. "If Ol’Bolossat goes, the Ewaso Nyiro dries up, and the livelihood of pastoralists in Samburu and Isiolo collapses. This is not just about a lake; it is about regional security."

• The Human Cost: Local communities, however, are wary of the new directives. Farmers who have tilled the fertile receding shores for decades face eviction. "We have title deeds," claimed one local leader. "You cannot value a hippo more than a human being."
• The Wildlife Crisis: KWS reports indicate that human-wildlife conflict has spiked as hippos move further inland in search of water and pasture, raiding farms and terrorizing villages.
• The Action Plan: The state has committed KSh 500 million to the initial phase of restoration. This includes fencing off the core wetland area and incentivizing farmers to switch to bamboo and indigenous trees compatible with water conservation.

The Last Stand

Environmentalists warn that this is the final window of opportunity. Previous attempts to gazette and protect the lake have bogged down in political squabbles and litigation. This time, the government insists it will use "all necessary force" to enforce compliance.

As the excavators roll in to block illegal canals, the fate of Lake Ol’Bolossat hangs in the balance. It is a test case for Kenya's resolve to protect its water towers against the twin threats of climate change and human greed.