Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) has resumed operations of its Olkaria Geothermal Spa (Naivasha Geothermal Spa) and is now open to the public.
The Naivasha-based Geothermal Spa was closed to the public at the height of the COVID-19 p******c in compliance with Ministry of Health protocols to help stop the spread of the virus.
The Spa was re-opened after an assessment by the Ministry of Health and Nakuru County Government Health Officials who gave the facility a clean bill of health to resume operations under strict compliance of the COVID-19 preventive measures.
“I encourage members of the public visiting our Geothermal Spa to observe all COVID-19 protocols as you enjoy this natural resource that is unique not only in Kenya but in the entire African continent,” said KenGen Managing Director and CEO Rebecca Miano.
During the closure, KenGen used the opportunity to conduct routine maintenance and improve the facility to enhance user experience.
Due to its proximity to the capital Nairobi, the Naivasha Geothermal Spa offers Kenyans an alternative to Mombasa and other distant tourist destinations as they get to explore the h*************s of geothermal steam which is also used for electricity generation.
The Geothermal Health Spa and Demonstration Centre showcases direct use applications such as hot/warm water bathing for balneological effects, sauna, steam bathing, cooking, drying of fruits and vegetables, refrigeration, irrigation of crops and fish farming.
Geothermal Spa has three cascaded lagoons. The first lagoon is a receiving pond for the hot brine with a temperature of more than 90 degrees Celcius that is gathered from various wells in the Olkaria Geothermal field.
The Second lagoon is an overflow from the first lagoon and offers temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celcius with both shallow and deep ends.
The third and largest lagoon whose temperature is 35 degrees Celcius can take up to 400 people.
An extension of the third lagoon has children pool hardly one foot deep where small children as young as two can enjoy the warm bath, under the care of lifesavers.
