National and County government officials in Nyandarua County have said operations to save the dwindling water levels in Lake Ol Bolosat were in top gear.

Led by County Commissioner Amos Mariba, the officials said that unfriendly environmental practices and encroachment were among the challenges leading to the drying up of the lake.

While calling for concerted efforts by the surrounding communities towards restoring the only lake in Central Kenya, the commissioner directed all eucalyptus trees around water catchment areas to be felled.

The administrator who was speaking in Aberdares sub-county during a tree planting exercise to mark the world wetlands day themed" it is time to restore wetlands”, he said that the eucalyptus trees have contributed greatly to the drying of wetlands.

At the Muruai springs, a wetland that feeds Lake Ol Bolosat, the CC also promised that the county government will work with the national government to ensure that people with lands neighboring the water catchment areas are given environmentally friendly tree seedlings.

Earlier this week the CC had convened a meeting after herders from Isiolo and Samburu counties clashed with locals who were claiming the herders were grazing in their farms that surrounded Lake Ol Bolosat.

He urged the youths to take the initiative of reclaiming the wetlands as the effects of their desertification will be tougher in the future.

Echoing the same sentiments, Nyandarua County Executive committee member for water Wachira Mugo said that the county government is on course to rehabilitate the wetlands.

He asked the people planting tree seedlings to register with the Kenya Forestry Service (KFS) so that the government can be buying some tree species from them.

Lake Ol Bolosat is the only natural freshwater lake of its kind in central Kenya and forms the headwaters for Ewaso Nyiro River and the famous Thompson falls.

The lake also feeds Laikipia, Samburu, Isiolo, and Marsabit counties downstream.