Lake Baringo floods disrupt schools, displace families

Schools, homes, and farmlands in Baringo County remain underwater after Lake Baringo once again burst its banks, leaving hundreds of learners out of class at the start of the third term and dozens of families displaced.

The rising waters have turned an area once known for education, fishing, and tourism into a flood zone, where residents now live side by side with hippos and crocodiles along the shoreline.

At Loruk Primary School, the danger is stark. The playground has been swallowed by water, now a swamp where wild animals roam freely. The lake’s edge sits just 30 meters from the classrooms, forcing children to trudge through knee-deep water to attend lessons.

“Our children are really struggling, especially the little ones in nursery. If the water rises even slightly, crocodiles follow,” said resident Jeniffer Cherono.

The threat has already turned fatal. During the holiday break, a student lost their life after a crocodile attack while attempting to cross a flooded stretch. Fearful of similar incidents, some parents now escort their children to school, while others have chosen to keep them at home.

Nosukuro Primary School has been completely submerged, leaving its pupils without a learning facility. Villages in the surrounding areas have also been cut off, with residents only able to move by boat to access markets, hospitals, or schools.

Transport has been heavily disrupted. Matatus are struggling to navigate flooded sections of the Marigat–Chemolingot road, exposing passengers and drivers to grave risks.

“When schools closed the situation was manageable. Now the water levels have risen beyond control,” said teacher Paul Rotich, voicing concern over the fate of education in the region.

The flooding crisis has deep roots. Since 2012, Lake Baringo has been expanding, swallowing farms, schools, and homesteads. During the initial rise, 19 schools were submerged, including Ng’ambo, Salabani, and Lake Baringo Secondary School, forcing some to shut down or relocate.

Governor Benjamin Cheboi admitted the situation is worsening, warning that daily life is becoming increasingly difficult for affected residents. He urged for urgent measures to shield vulnerable communities from more displacement.

Tourism, another lifeline of the region, has not been spared. Hotels and lodges that had been slowly recovering from earlier floods are again under water. Staff now face renewed uncertainty as ground floors sit submerged and bookings are cancelled.

For many residents, the return of the floods has reignited fears about their future. With water levels still climbing, families, learners, and businesses remain at risk, as the community struggles to hold on to education, safety, and economic survival.