Submerged houses near Lake Baringo. Photo/Courtesy
By Daisy Okiring
Hundreds of pupils in Baringo County remain stranded after rising water levels from Lake Baringo submerged schools and homes, leaving communities cut off from essential services. Loruk Primary School has been worst hit, with its playground turned into a swamp now inhabited by crocodiles and hippos. Classrooms sit just meters from the shoreline, forcing young learners to wade through knee-deep water to access lessons.
Parents have expressed fears for their children’s safety. “Our children are really struggling, especially the little ones in nursery. If the water rises even slightly, crocodiles follow,” lamented resident Jeniffer Cherono. The fears are real—over the school holidays, a student was mauled by a crocodile during a routine crossing. At Nosukuro Primary School, the situation is even more dire, as the institution is now completely submerged, leaving learners with no alternative.
Communities Cut Off by Expanding Lake
Beyond education, villages surrounding Lake Baringo are facing growing isolation. Many areas can now only be accessed by boat, cutting residents off from markets, hospitals, and schools. The Marigat–Chemolingot road, a key transport route, has sections underwater, forcing matatus and other vehicles to cautiously navigate flooded stretches.
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“When schools closed the situation was manageable. Now, the water levels have risen beyond control,” explained teacher Paul Rotich. Since 2012, the lake has steadily expanded, swallowing homes, farmlands, and public facilities. Nineteen schools were submerged in earlier phases of flooding, forcing several—including Ng’ambo, Salabani, and Lake Baringo Secondary School—to either close permanently or relocate.
Governor Benjamin Cheboi acknowledged the worsening threat, noting that the rising waters have made it increasingly difficult for residents to live and work around the shoreline.
Tourism and Livelihoods Under Threat
The flooding has also dealt a fresh blow to Baringo’s once-thriving tourism sector. Hotels and lodges that had just begun recovering from earlier flooding are once again under water. Several ground-floor rooms are completely submerged, leaving staff and business owners uncertain about their future. Fishing communities are also affected, with boats displaced and dangerous wildlife invading traditional fishing grounds.
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What was once a hub for education, tourism, and economic activity has been reduced to a zone of displacement and danger. For families now homeless and children missing out on school, the swelling waters of Lake Baringo represent not just a natural disaster but a threat to livelihoods and long-term stability.
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