AFRICA

Flooding lakes in Kenya’s Rift Valley lead to large-scale displacement

Besides inundating farmlands, residential areas, rising waters are bringing crocodiles and hippos close to habitations

Kenya is home to 64 lakes and eight of these are in Rift Valley. AA

H. J. I. / AA

The rising water levels in the lakes inhabiting the Great Rift Valley in Kenya have not only caused large-scale displacements but have also increased incidents of human-animal conflict.

Kenya is home to 64 lakes and eight of these are in Rift Valley, which is an intra-continental ridge system that runs through Kenya from north to south.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Thomas Chepchieng, director of Medical Services in Baringo county, said the crocodile attacks on people are on the rise, and most of the affected people are aged between 15-19 years.

Douglas Keitany, 42, and a 13-year-old girl became the latest victims of crocodiles in Lake Baringo.

- The young girl was bathing in the lake when a crocodile emerged and dragged her deep into the lake, she is yet to be found, as for the other man, only his leg was retrieved from the lake - said Janet Chebet, a villager from Kambi ya Samaki in Baringo county.

Those living on the shores of the lake showed scars mostly on the bodies of their children and the elderly inflicted by crocodiles, as a media team arrived in the region. Many people had lost their limbs and were left paralyzed forever.

At the serene Lake Naivasha, waters have submerged an entire residential estate. Industries and other places that offered employment to the locals are submerged and now hosting crocodiles and hippos.

- That place is where my house used to be, it was made of stone andiron roofing … I lived next to that two-story building over there - said resident Ann Njeri, while pointing towards the area from a boat.

The roof of a church is visible from a distance, as the rest of the building has gone deep into the water.