Tens of hippopotamus in the troubled Lake Naivasha have died in the last few days raising concern and fear among fishermen and locals.
Part of the lake has been covered by the decaying hippos as a heavy odor filters across the water body that is said to be on its deathbed.
All species of fish in the lake have been affected by the mysterious disease with fingers pointing to toxic waste from flower farms and Naivasha sewerage plant.
A visit to the lake found fishermen collecting parts of dead hippos from the lake and burying them by the beach as tourists unaware of the occurrence toured the lake.
According to an eco-tour operator David Kilo, they first noticed huge hippos floating near the beaches.
He attributed the deaths to chemical runs off from tens of flower farms and sewerage plant around the lake adding that the problem could get worse in coming days.
Contacted Naivasha Sub County Public Health Officer Caroline Vata said that they had started investigation over the incidents.
She said they will collect samples and take them to the institute’s laboratory and results would be out before the end of the week.
She admitted that majority of the dead hippos were found in shallow areas which had been covered in siltation following the heavy rains.
She was quick to add that they did not rule out pollution adding that laboratory results would clear up the issue.
In the last couple of months, the lake level and water quality have dropped with experts warning that the lake faces an ecological collapse.