Counties buy water hyacinth harvester
Children stand beside a section of L Victoria overgrown with water hyacinth. Counties around the lake have purchased a machine for harvesting the weed to in turn use it in producing manure and energy. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Water hyacinth to be used to produce energy and manure.
- The machine can harvest 150 tonnes of hyacinth a day.
- Government working closely with the National Environmental Management Authority “to restore sanity” in the areas around the lake.
Counties bordering Lake Victoria have bought a water hyacinth harvester, Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma has said.
Mr Ranguma, who is also the Lake Region Economic bloc chairman, yesterday said the machine was acquired with the World Bank input.
Mr Ranguma said water hyacinth would be used to produce energy and manure. “Reduction of the weed will enhance port activities,” the county boss said. The machine can harvest 150 tonnes of hyacinth a day.
The lake counties are Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Siaya and Busia.
The governor said the Kenya Ports Authority and the county and national governments had signed an agreement to build a new port in Kisumu.
“The devolved unit will also close down factories that discharge effluent into the lake,” he said.
Environment executive Barack Abonyo said the level of pollution was high, leading to diminishing fish stocks.
“We will revoke licences of companies discharging untreated waste into the lake,” he said, adding that the devolved government was working closely with the National Environmental Management Authority “to restore sanity”.
