Thousands of families living around Kenya’s Rift Valley lakes have been displaced as rising water levels swallow homes, farmland and critical infrastructure, government agencies have told Parliament.
The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) and National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) told the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining that expanding lakes were creating a growing humanitarian, environmental and economic crisis.
NDMA Chief Executive Officer Hared Hassan, Kenyatta University researcher Associate Professor Simion Onywere and NDOC Director David Samoei appeared before the committee as part of its inquiry into rising lake levels and their impact.
The affected lakes include Turkana, Baringo, Bogoria, Nakuru, Solai, Elementaita, Naivasha, Oloiden and Kamnarok.
Officials raised particular concern over lakes Baringo and Bogoria, warning that continued expansion could submerge more land and create water-quality problems if their waters eventually merge.
NDOC proposed exploring whether excess water could be channelled towards the Suguta Valley and used for irrigation.
The agencies attributed the rising water levels to several interacting factors, including increased rainfall, reduced evaporation, siltation and increased runoff from rivers feeding the lakes.
Climate variability, geological and hydrogeological conditions and human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing and changes in land use have also contributed to increased erosion and runoff.
NDOC told MPs that approximately 110 square kilometres of land had been submerged.
However, the exact number of displaced households remains unclear.
NDMA and NDOC reported that more than 5,000 households had been displaced, while committee Vice Chair Charles Kamuren said earlier submissions to the parliamentary inquiry had placed the figure at about 8,000 households, with nearly 30 institutions also affected.
The committee has asked relevant agencies and stakeholders to harmonise their figures to establish the true scale of displacement. Officials have not yet provided a definitive explanation for the difference between the estimates.
Despite the discrepancy, evidence presented to Parliament indicates thousands of families have lost homes, farmland, grazing areas, fishing grounds and access to established markets. Some have reportedly relocated several times as shorelines continue to expand.
Roads, bridges, schools, health facilities and water systems have also been submerged or damaged, disrupting essential services and leaving some communities isolated.
NDMA called for stronger early-warning systems, mapping of vulnerable communities and infrastructure, protection of livelihoods and organised relocation of residents from high-risk areas.
For the longer term, the authority recommended restoration of degraded catchments, wetland protection, climate-resilient infrastructure and stronger land-use planning.
It also called for better coordination between national and county governments and predictable financing for disaster-risk reduction.
Kamuren said the committee would prepare a final report for consideration by the National Assembly, including recommendations on mitigation, reconstruction of affected schools and possible assistance for displaced communities.
“We are sympathising with our people who have been displaced, the schools that are submerged and other facilities that are submerged,” he said.
With further heavy rainfall expected, Kamuren urged residents and authorities to prepare before conditions worsen.
“Don't wait until disaster occurs, because we have time to move,” he said.
The crisis is increasing pressure on the government to move beyond emergency interventions and develop a long-term strategy for communities threatened by expanding Rift Valley lakes.
Category: Features
Related Video: Dolly Parton’s Family Announces Her Passing in Emotional Tribute
Facebook
Twitter / X
WhatsApp
LinkedIn
Telegram
Reddit