Water, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change

Water, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change

Functions:

Environment policy management.
Forestry development policy management.
Wildlife conservation policy management.
Waste water treatment and disposal.
Solid waste management
Enforcement of waste management policies, standards and regulations.
Public nuisance, air and noise pollution control.
Water catchment conservation, control and protection.
Soil conservation.
County parks, beaches and recreation facilities management.
Energy regulation and conservation.
Identification of renewable energy sites for development as per legal Notice No. 157.
Borehole site identification and drilling.

Nakuru County Environment Profile

Water Bodies, Forests

Nakuru County is located in the South Rift Region, between Latitudes 00 13’N and 00 10’ and Longitudes 350 28’W and 350 36’ E. Out of the total county’s area; 202 Km2 is made up of water bodies which comprises three lakes: Naivasha (149 Km2), Nakuru (32Km2) and Elementaita (21Km2). About 0.09% of the county’s land mass which translates to 679.6 Km2 is the area considered to be the gazetted forest. This area is comprised mainly of Mau and Donduri forests. There are also six non-gazetted forests in the county. Taking into account the current forest cover, there is an urgent need for more afforestation so as to raise the forested area in the county to at least 10%.

Garbage Collection

On a daily basis, Nakuru County generates 200 tonnes of waste. 45% of this waste is collected and disposed. Disposal mainly takes place in dump site, the main dump site in Nakuru being Gioto. Per day, 80 – 100 lorryloads of waste are taken to Gioto.

Over time, this dump site has been an eyesore to residents of Kimamunyi and London as well as people using the Nakuru – Eldama Ravine road, nonetheless, the County Government of Nakuru under the leadership of H.E Governor Lee Kinyanjui is rehabilitating the dump site.

Water Supply

At the moment water supply coverage in Nakuru County is at 66%. Hence, there is an immediate need to boost water supply in the county. Still many of the county residents cover a distance of six kilometers to get to the nearest water point, while others till continue to take between 1 – 4 minutes to fetch drinking water.

Besides the water bodies mentioned earlier, Nakuru County is endowed with other natural water resources which include: rivers, shallow wells, springs, dams, pans and boreholes spread all over the county. Some of the major rivers are: Malewa, Njoro, Molo and Igwamiti.

Energy

Nakuru County hosts the nation’s complexes of geothermal power production. Olkaria complex has made Kenya one of the world’s leading geothermal power producer. This aspect has also made Naivasha to be earmarked for the establishment of an industrial park by the National Government due to its proximity to the Olkaria geothermal complex which will make power cheaper as well as facilitate other uses of steam direct from the wells.

Physical Location:

Telephone: (051) 2214142
Email:info.env@nakuru.go.ke

County Executive – Dr. Nelson Mara