Troubled waters

For centuries, Lake Turkana, the world's largest desert lake, has supported hundreds of thousands of people in one of the most isolated and marginalised regions of Africa. Now, in the face of a brutal combination of simultaneous drought and flooding, that lifeline is on the verge of collapse.

Prolonged drought across northern Kenya has decimated pastoral livelihoods, forcing large numbers of herders to abandon livestock and turn to fishing. The sudden increase in fishing pressure has contributed to a sharp decline in fish stocks, with fishermen throughout the lake reporting that it is becoming increasingly difficult to catch enough to survive. Competition over dwindling resources has escalated into violent conflict, leading to deadly gun battles between rival fishing groups on the water.

At the same time, Lake Turkana's water levels have risen dramatically, flooding vast stretches of shoreline. Scientists attribute the surge to a combination of factors, including intensified rainfall in the Ethiopian highlands that feed the Omo River, tectonic activity affecting the lake basin, and sediment buildup altering water flow. In the past 15 years, the lake level has risen by as much as 10 metres, with devastating consequences for lakeside communities.

Entire villages have been submerged, displacing tens of thousands, and freshwater sources contaminated or destroyed. One village that used to be on the mainland now finds itself on an island, cut off by 600m of water. The water level rise disrupted fish breeding grounds, and even led to a sharp rise in crocodile attacks, intensifying fear among fishermen already risking their lives to earn a living.

Among those worst impacted are the El Molo people, one of the smallest ethnic groups in Africa, numbering no more than a few hundred. For the El Molo, who have lived on the shores of Lake Turkana for centuries, the lake was not just a source of livelihoods, but the cornerstone of their cultural identity. Now, it threatens their entire way of life.

Myriad interventions from the Kenyan government and NGOs are already underway, yet due to the complexity of the dozens of interrelated challenges, there's no easy fix. For now, the crisis of Lake Turkana shows little sign of abating.