Protecting Kenya’s only highland lake
Empowering community-led governance to safeguard Lake Ol’Bolossat and restore a critical wetland ecosystem.
LOCCOG members, Nyandarua county officials and other stakeholders during the validation workshop for the Nyandarua County Natural Resources Management Policy and the Wetlands and Riparian Areas Management Bill (Photo: Moses Mathenge/LOCCOG)
The Lake Ol’Bolossat Community Conservation Group (LOCCOG) is a federation of 56 grassroots groups representing more than 4,000 members in Nyandarua county, Kenya.
The organisation brings together women, young people, fishers, farmers, pastoralists and community leaders to conserve Lake Ol’Bolossat, the country’s only highland lake and the source of the Ewaso Nyiro North River.
Following severe wetland degradation and the temporary disappearance of the lake in 2023, LOCCOG emerged as a leading voice advocating for stronger protection and restoration measures.
Forest and Farm Facility activities
From 2023-25, the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) provided rapid financial and technical support that enabled LOCCOG to document the ecological and socioeconomic impacts of the lake’s decline, mobilise communities and engage county decision makers.
FFF’s support strengthened LOCCOG’s organisational governance, financed public awareness campaigns and enabled the group’s participation in policy dialogues with the County Environment Committee, Natural Resources Directorate and County Assembly.
The evidence generated by communities informed the drafting of the Nyandarua County Natural Resource Management Policy and the Wetlands and Riparian Areas Management Bill 2024, and reinforced implementation of the Lake Ol’Bolossat Integrated Management Plan (2020-2030).
Significance of impact
LOCCOG’s advocacy contributed to the county’s first comprehensive wetland governance framework, creating a legal pathway for making Lake Ol’Bolossat a national reserve and supporting Kenya’s efforts to secure Ramsar site recognition (a globally recognised wetland of international importance).
FFF-supported advocacy also attracted restoration partners and catalysed the restoration of more than 700 hectares alongside the planting of over 600,000 indigenous trees.
Women and young people influenced policy discussions, ensuring restoration benefits, equitable access and community livelihoods were incorporated into decision making.
Conclusion
FFF support enabled LOCCOG to transform a local environmental crisis into a platform for lasting policy reform and ecosystem restoration.
The organisation is now a recognised actor in wetland governance, helping secure long-term protection for Lake Ol’Bolossat, while strengthening community participation in natural resource management.
Further reading
Forest and Farm Facility 2023 annual report: climate resilient landscapes and improved livelihoods, Forest and Farm Facility (2024), project report
News: Forest and Farm Facility programme supports restoration of Lake Ol Bolossat in Kenya, YenKasa Africa (2023)