The Nairobi Dam was once a haven for fishing and recreational activities that is, however, no longer the case due to pollution.
Unfortunately, the current state of the dam gives a totally different picture that is full of pathetic water mass that has suffered massive pollution.
Heavy release of wastes from the highly populated Kibera slums has been cited as one of the biggest challenges suffocating the efforts to rehabilitate the dam. Solid wastes emanating from the thirteen villages of the slums have spurred rapid growth of water hyacinths that is almost covering the entire water mass and also curtailing the nostalgic recreational activities associated with the dam.
Aquatic plants have grown to alter the course of feeder rivers making the dam less appealing. Efforts by the national government, non-governmental organisations and the City Council of Nairobi to conduct a cleanup exercise have always proved futile given the absence of proper waste management mechanism in place to save the rivers.
A number of industries also channel their industrial wastes to the dam adding up to the Kibera wastes and the outcome is the incumbent wastage of the Nairobi Dam.
A voice of concern is now directed to the City Council of Nairobi and the national government to put new and sophisticated mechanisms in place to help restore the lost glory of the dam.