A severe water crisis is gripping the Tana Delta in Tana River County, where over 15,000 residents across four communities have been left without a reliable source of fresh water after the River Tana, a lifeline for the region, was contaminated by salty ocean water.
The alarming intrusion, attributed to the accelerating effects of climate change, has turned the freshwater river brackish.
The situation has prompted a humanitarian emergency and highlights the escalating environmental pressures facing Kenya’s riverine populations and those in low-lying areas.
The crisis has been so acute that local community efforts have been mobilized to safeguard the remaining freshwater.
Mzee Bakari, a local resident, reported that the community has already mobilized an immediate mitigation effort: constructing temporary dykes out of soil-filled sacks to block the saltwater intrusion.
“These emergency barriers are a desperate, grassroots effort to block the saltwater from advancing further upstream and mixing with the river’s precious fresh supply,” he said.
The situation has already disrupted local conservation efforts; a planned tree planting event was cancelled as attention shifted entirely to the immediate water emergency.
In the face of a rapidly worsening crisis, locals in Tana River have appealed to the national government for a permanent solution.
The communities have specifically called upon Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to visit the affected area of Kalota and take "decisive action" to address the rising salinity that threatens their survival.
"This is more than a local issue; it’s a national disaster in the making," Mr. Bakari stated, appealing for high-level intervention.
"Our livelihoods, our food security, everything is tied to the river. We need a long-term strategy, not just a temporary fix."
The contamination of the River Tana serves as a stark warning about the escalating challenges posed by the climate crisis to natural water systems across Kenya. As sea levels rise and climatic events become more erratic, the delicate balance of riverine ecosystems is being severely disrupted, jeopardising both the livelihoods and food security of countless people.
Siyad Jimale, the executive director of Horizon Analysts and Researchers Network (HARN) said the situation in the Tana Delta demands a swift policy response to mitigate the immediate suffering and prevent long-term environmental damage.
“The threat of widespread ecological collapse in the region, which is a vital area for biodiversity, is now a pressing concern that requires immediate government focus,” he said.