Africa’s second-largest Oxbow Lake may soon have clean, clear water for aquatic life; animals, especially fish should plan to dredge and de-silt it materializes.
A stakeholders meeting called on Tuesday to discuss post-recovery plans following a recent calamity that saw Lake Kanyaboli break a dyke that separates it from the vast Yala swamp, occasioning a catastrophe downstream, heard that already one of the stakeholders has identified a company that is willing to undertake the works.
Addressing the media after the stakeholders meeting, Siaya County Government Chief Officer for Water and Environment, Walter Okello, said that the company, through a stakeholder known as Ignite Africa, will help clean up the lake as part of the efforts to restore the ecosystem.
“Part of the cleanup will involve de-silting and as stakeholders, we were discussing the potential effects of the works,” said the chief officer.
Okello said that through de-silting and reconstruction of the collapsed infrastructure, the Lake will regain its optimum water levels of the right quality.
He assured the community around Lake Kanyaboli and the entire Siaya County of the county government’s commitment to ensuring that the ecosystem was restored.
The director of environment, Gabriel Oduong’ lamented that the recent breaking of the dykes affected community livelihoods in Siaya and Busia counties, with the latter bearing the brunt of the impact.
“The impact was felt more in Busia County, where roads and classrooms were swept away by the gushing water from the collapsed dyke,” said Oduong.
The director said that as part of the post-recovery plans the county government of Siaya has embarked on the reconstruction of the collapsed dyke.
The meeting was also attended by former Alego-Usonga member of parliament, Sammy Weya, who called for concerted efforts to save the ecosystem.
By Philip Onyango
