The world's famous Lake Nakuru is in danger of losing its tag as an international tourism site due to the dwindling number of flamingoes and wild animals.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala while speaking on Thursday at a Naivasha hotel said pollution caused by the discharge of effluent into the lake endangers wildlife and drives them away.
Balala said the park is as good as dead if various stakeholders fail to take action to improve the park.
“To me, Lake Nakuru National Park is as good as dead, it is very sad. A number of trees have also withered,” said Balala.
Lake Nakuru which is home to lions, rhinos, buffaloes and hundreds of bird species including flamingoes is now facing numerous challenges.
The CS said besides pollution, the park has poor road network, water abstraction from nearby farms, encroachment of riparian land and dilapidated buildings.
Balala said it was a huge disappointment not spotting any of the famous Big Five animals when he visited the park adding that the flamingos in Lake Nakuru have relocated to other water bodies.
He said Lake Naivasha is faced with similar challenges and promised that the government will put measures to boost tourism in Nakuru.
The CS challenged the Kenya Wildlife Service researchers to offer solutions on how to improve the park to boost the number of local and international visitors.
“The park has been famous for its high number of flamingos but many of them have relocated to other places. We shall hold talks with my counterpart in the Ministry of Environment over the issue of pollution in Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha and I promise stern action,” added Balala.