KENYA: Lake Baringo Rising Waters Submerge Schools And Displace Families

By Lisbeth Micheni, Kenya 

Lake Baringo has once again spilt over its banks, leaving classrooms underwater, homes destroyed, and families stranded.

What was once a bustling centre for learning, fishing, and tourism is now a waterlogged stretch where crocodiles and hippos roam freely, heightening fears for residents along the lake’s edge.

Hundreds of pupils have yet to resume classes for the new term, while dozens of households have been rendered homeless.

At Loruk Primary School, the playground has turned into a swamp teeming with wildlife, forcing learners to trek through knee-deep water to reach their classrooms.

Parents worry for their children’s safety after reports of a student being attacked by a crocodile during the holiday break.

In Nosukuro, the situation is even more dire. The entire primary school has disappeared beneath the water, leaving children with no alternative place of learning.

Villages nearby are only reachable by boat, cutting off residents from markets, hospitals, and schools.

Even major roads, including sections of the Marigat–Chemolingot route, are impassable as matatus cautiously weave through flooded stretches.

“This time the water levels have surpassed what we witnessed when schools closed. The situation is out of control,” said teacher Paul Rotich.

The flooding is not new. Since 2012, Lake Baringo has steadily expanded, submerging villages and institutions. Nineteen schools, including Ng’ambo, Salabani, and Lake Baringo Secondary, were among the first casualties of the lake’s growth. Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi has acknowledged the worsening crisis, warning that communities face increasing difficulties in movement and survival.

The hospitality industry has also suffered. Lodges and hotels that had only just begun to recover from previous disasters are once again underwater, with ground floors completely submerged and employees uncertain about the future of their jobs.

What was once a source of life and livelihood has now turned into a constant threat, leaving the people of Baringo in a cycle of displacement and uncertainty.