The dreaded water hyacinth has once again reared its ugly head in Lake Victoria on the Kenyan side, hence hampering several activities.
Some of the activities affected by the invasive weed include fishing and pleasure travel.
The drifting water hyacinth mat has affected boat riding activities, water sports, and fishing and, at the same time, pushed away tourists who flocked to Lakeside City during the festive season to view the lake.
This is the first time the weed has resurfaced since 2018, with various stakeholders calling on the government to act swiftly before the situation gets out of hand.
The establishments affected by the weed include the popular Dunga Beach, Hill Camp, Hideout Resort, Milimani Beach Resort, Kisumu Gold Club, Yacht Club, Le Pearl, Locco Beach, Bingo Beach, and Hippo Point Public Beach.
Government establishments, among them the Port of Kisumu, Kenya Shipyards Limited (KSL), and Kenya Pipeline Corporation (KPC) oil jetty, have not been spared.
Some of the revelers who flocked to the entertainment joints lamented the poor state of the lake, calling for concerted efforts to remove the weed. Dan Owino, a boat operator at Dunga Beach, said the weed has adversely affected their operations.
The number of visitors, he added, has dropped significantly, with some fearing to board boats due to the prevailing condition of the lake.
“During the festive season, I normally do 10-15 trips per day, charging Sh. 2,000 per trip. Since the water hyacinth resurfaced, I hardly manage two trips in a day,” he said.
Some of the regular customers, he added, have shied away from the excursions for fear of getting stuck in the weeds. The situation was the same at Dunga Hill Camp and Yacht Club, which operate leisure motor boats on the lake.
Fishermen have also recorded poor harvests during the festive season, which has resulted in a fish price hike.
James Otieno, a fisherman at Dunga Beach, said apart from hampering navigation within the lake, the water hyacinth, which depletes oxygen in the water, has pushed the fish deep into the lake, making it difficult for them to make a catch.
The weed, he added, carried dangerous venomous snakes, putting the lives of those who ventured into the water at risk.
“This weed started spreading nearly a month ago, and we have not seen any deliberate efforts to remove it. Now our livelihood is threatened, and we don’t know what to do,” he said.
The Sh. 80 million water hyacinth harvester, which was procured by the Ministry of Environment in 2017, he said has been seen trying to harvest the weed but it appeared overwhelmed.
“This machine is small and cannot handle the magnitude of the water hyacinth we have now. The government must explore other alternatives to address this issue before it gets out of control,” he said.
By Fredrick Odiero
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