At Parkview location, we encountered Ms Ann Wanjiru tending to her kales, diligently mulching them before watering.

Previously a successful vegetable farmer on a fertile two-acre land in Mwariki, Wanjiru’s life took a turn when rising water levels in Lake Nakuru forced her to move to her current half-acre property.

Ann Wanjiru's mulching her vegetables at her farm.

Photo credit: MERCY KIHUGU/MTAA WANGU

Unfortunately, due to the high water levels, the crops wilted and died shortly after germination.

Ms Wanjiru spoke of the complete differences since the move, noting that her current land's fertility is significantly lower, requiring extensive effort to remove hard pans and cultivate suitable soil for planting.

As a result, she has resorted to taking on-farm casual labour for neighbours to support her family, particularly her three children in college.

Read: Troubled waters: Uncovering mystery of the rising Lake Nakuru

In her previous farming venture in Mwariki, Ms Wanjiru earned substantial income from vegetables, maize, and sweet potatoes.

“Previously I used to earn Sh 2,000 per day from the vegetables and Sh 30,000 from the maize and sweet potatoes a month which was enough to not only sustain my family but also support my children’s education,” said Ms Wanjiru.

However, the inadequate returns from her new land are barely sufficient to sustain her children's education as one of the daughters has been forced to stay at home to allow others to continue with school.

Mr Joseph Njuguna Kimani, another farmer we encountered, faced similar challenges after returning to farming on his land following the decline in water levels from the lake.

Joseph Kimani at his farm after the water receded.

Photo credit: MERCY KIHUGU/MTAA WANGU

Mr Njuguna said he started trying different crops to find ones that could thrive in the soils that were no as fertile as before.

Sadly, some of his attempts, like planting beans, resulted in losses, leading him to switch to peas, which showed better promise.

Also Read: Troubled waters: How Lake Nakuru 'submerged' families have kept afloat

Well the infertile soil is not the only thing that residents had to grapple with.

One resident, Peter Kimani vividly remembers how during the 2020 rise in water levels, three of his children regularly suffered from typhoid and cholera.

Peter Kimani, a resident of Mwariki.

Photo credit: MERCY KIHUGU/MTAA WANGU

The submersion of homesteads resulted in a sudden increase of waterborne diseases in the region due to the filling up of pit latrines and manholes, which facilitated the spread of these illnesses.

However, with the water receding, the incidence of diseases among his children and other residents has decreased.

"To prevent the recurrence of these diseases, I made efforts to keep my pit latrine clean and educated my children about the importance of hand washing and proper hygiene practices," he says.

Another affected individual, Mercy Wanjiru, observed an increase in mosquitoes in the area.

A manhole that was once submerged now posing a health risk to residents in Mwariki.

Photo credit: BRET SANYA/MTAA WANGU

To protect themselves from malaria and related diseases, residents like Wanjiru resorted to purchasing mosquito nets and repellents.

Isaiah Kipchemwoi, a Nursing Officer at the Mwariki Community Dispensary, reported an increase in waterborne diseases, such as amoebiasis and diarrhea, during the period of elevated lake water levels.

"The facility recorded 360 cases of diarrhea, 90 cases of malaria, and 80 cases of amoebiasis," he notes.

A toilet that was destroyed by waters from Lake Nakuru remains open posing a health risk to residents of Mwariki.

Photo credit: BRET SANYA/MTAA WANGU

Additionally, the fishing activities that emerged as a new source of income led to a rise in sexually transmitted diseases due to the increased cases of transactional sexual activities.

He notes that the facility has registered 50 cases of sexually transmitted diseases.

The illegal fishing activities in the lake further compounded health issues among fishermen, with 600 cases of upper respiratory tract infections and 260 cases of pneumonia recorded.

"Women who engage in fishing also face complications, such as pH imbalances in their reproductive system due to the high levels of salinity in the water," Kipchemwoi adds.

According to the senior assistant Chief ParkView Sub-location, Joseph Oyawa, high criminal activities were also recorded when illegal fishing started in Lake Nakuru.

“This place has seen several deaths arising from fishing in Lake Nakuru. Mostly these murders have been orchestrated by fishermen who use drugs and they would often fight over stolen fish and end up killing each other,” says Oyawa.

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He adds that those who are lucky enough to get out of the lake with their catch, are sometimes attacked by gang members using motorbikes who later sell the catch in Nakuru town.

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Troubled waters: Infertile soils, STIs and waterborne diseases haunt residents of Mwariki

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Mercy Kihugu