- Residents, including fishermen and traders, have lamented the devastating effects of the surging lake.
- The county government said at least 24,320 people living on the shores of Lake Turkana have been displaced.
Image: HESBORN ETYANG
Residents on the shores of Lake Turkana are living in fear following the surge of water levels that is threatening the livelihoods of about 500,000 people.
The rising water level of Lake Turkana, which started last year, has displaced thousands of people along its shores and destroyed property.
Authorities said the water has surged to unprecedented levels from 500 metres to 800 metres, submerging beaches, hotels, homes and government offices.
The county government said at least 24,320 people living on the shores of lake Turkana have been displaced.
Governor Josphat Nanok said the affected residents are in Kerio, Kangatotha, Kalokol and Lake Zone wards.
Residents, including fishermen and traders, have raised concern over the effects of the surge.
The situation has also exposed people to crocodiles and hippos, leading to human-wildlife conflict. There are also fears of waterborne disease outbreaks.
Akai Namus,32, a mother of four decried that the rising water has swept her homestead after she had moved to a higher ground.
“Since last year March, the lake's water level has been increasing. We were advised by the authorities to move to higher grounds for safety but the lake is still surging. My homestead was destroyed by the raging waters and I'm now spending the nights on the shores of the lake,” she said.
Namus said she lives on the shores of the lake so that she can do fishing to fend for her family but the increasing water level has disrupted the activity.
She is appealing to the county and national governments and humanitarian agencies for aid.
She said they are in dire need of food, tents for shelter, mosquito nets, fishing nets, canoes, clothes, clean water and other necessities.
Fisherman Peter Echakan of Kalokol said raging waters have destroyed their fishing gears and now they are depending on handouts for survival.
“The lake's water levels is still rising and causing damage to fisher folks. All my fishing gears such as canoes and nets and my grass-thatched house were submerged,” he said.
Lobali Esinyen also a fisherman at the lake, said the swelling of the lake has halted fishing activities that supports their livelihoods.
He said since the lake started surging, they have been struggling to catch enough fish.
Lobali called on the Health ministry to assess the situation to avert diseases such as malaria and cholera.
“We normally experience cases of waterborne diseases along the shores of Turkana. Cholera has been on the rise for many years claiming lives of fishermen due to poor hygiene and lack of clean water,” Lobali said.
Turkana Kenya National Chamber Commerce and Industry chairman Piu Ewoton said the surge is a threat to livelihoods, including businesses, tourism and fishing.
He said hotels have been submerged and many businesses have shut down rendering people jobless.
“The landing beaches have been submerged by the swollen lake. They include Kaito, Kalokol, Todonyang, Kariekuk, Naiyani and Esanyait. Business people have been rendered jobless,” he said.
Ewoton has appealed to Kenya Tourism Fund that is mandated to support hotel and restaurants, to disburse money to business people in Turkana to revive their businesses.
The rising water level in Rift Valley lakes has forced thousands of people out of their homes, submerged huge areas of farmland, utilities and displaced animals from parks.
The water of lakes Nakuru, Naivasha, Baringo, Turkana and Bogoria has risen to levels not seen in 75 years, according to the Water Resources Authority.
WRA attributes the phenomenon to tectonic activities and the effects of climate change on rainfall patterns.
-Edited by SKanyara