A lot is said about Lake Simbi at the heart of Karachuonyo, Homa Bay County, among them myths going back to around 500 years ago.
But the lake which was once a village, Simbi Nyayima, according to Luo myths, is now slowly but steadily losing its meaning.
According to Joseph Oluoch who lives near the tiny lake, both the county and central governments have abandoned the rich historical destination.
Consequently, he told the Standard, it has become a dumping site for some people operating around it due to its bad condition and isolation.
He said that the county had also avoided aiding in removing the garbage, and has at the same time failed to at least put a fence around it to prevent the pollution.
"This pollution could be tamed if the site was secured with some fence, and a team set up to manage it as well as improve its value," he told the paper.
He added that the pollution has also sent away birds that used to frequent the place, especially flamingos that would camp at Lake Simbi twice a year some years back.
The few other birds that still visit the place are scared away by passersby who throw stones at them, he added.
“The lake is left open, and people passing around frequently scare away the birds by throwing stones at them,” he added.
However, the county has cleared itself of the blame, saying that attempts to preserve the lake have been thwarted by Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) have rejected allocations proposed for the purpose.