LOIYANGALANI, Kenya- Rising waters in Lake Turkana have displaced hundreds of families in Marsabit County, submerged critical infrastructure and disrupted livelihoods, underscoring the growing impact of climate change on vulnerable communities in northern Kenya.
The lake has been rising steadily since 2010, forcing residents living along its shores to abandon their homes while destroying schools, health facilities, fishing infrastructure and transport networks.
Among the hardest hit is the Elmolo community—one of Kenya’s smallest indigenous ethnic groups—whose livelihoods depend almost entirely on fishing. About 200 Elmolo households have been displaced after their homes were submerged by the expanding lake.
Marsabit County Director for Environment, Climate and Natural Resources Janet Ahadho said communities had suffered extensive losses, including fishing equipment and government-supported infrastructure.
“The lake has been rising steadily since 2010. This is a natural calamity. We cannot stop water from rising, but we can mitigate against the damage,” Ahadho said.
She said the rising waters had submerged a fish processing factory and cold storage facilities established by the government and development partners, dealing a major blow to the local fishing economy.
Climate change linked to rising lake levels
According to Ahadho, experts attribute the rising lake levels to a combination of climate change, increased rainfall intensity and environmental degradation that has accelerated siltation.
She added that further scientific studies are underway to determine the full causes of the phenomenon, including possible underground geological movements.
To support affected communities, the national and county governments are pursuing international climate financing through the Loss and Damage Fund, which assists countries experiencing irreversible climate-related losses.
Kenya’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has identified the rising lakes of the Great Rift Valley—including Lake Turkana—as priority areas for climate loss and damage funding.
A multi-sectoral assessment conducted earlier this year in Loiyangalani and other affected areas has already quantified the destruction, with a proposal submitted to the Santiago Network, which provides technical assistance to countries seeking climate finance.
“We are quantifying the losses and damages in monetary terms. If you talk about fish, we assess how the fish factory has been affected and the losses suffered across the value chain,” Ahadho said.
She noted that the assessment also considers the impact on education, including school closures and the disruption caused by displacement.
County steps up response
Marsabit County Secretary Dr Halkano Arero said the county government had prioritised interventions to support displaced families while strengthening infrastructure against future climate shocks.
In partnership with World Vision Kenya, the county will construct nine classrooms and an administration block for El-Molo Bay Primary School after the original school was submerged. A new site on higher ground has already been identified following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two parties.
Arero said the county government was also collaborating with the Kenya Maritime Authority to introduce ferry services linking Marsabit and Turkana counties to improve transport and trade, fulfilling a pledge made by President William Ruto.
He estimated that losses caused by the rising lake exceed Sh300 million, with the county exploring options to restore damaged fish cold-chain facilities.
The county has also allocated Sh7 million in the 2026/2027 financial year to replace boats and fishing gear destroyed by the rising waters.
“Residents living on the shoreline have been advised to move to higher ground,” Arero said, adding that the county had requested additional support from the national government to help resettle families unable to relocate on their own.
The county is also engaging humanitarian organisations to support affected households.
With forecasts indicating a likelihood of enhanced rainfall associated with the anticipated El Niño season, Marsabit County has earmarked Sh300 million for emergency response operations alongside investments in road infrastructure to improve access during disasters.