People living along the shores of Lake Turkana are counting huge losses caused by floods.
Area chiefs confirm that a total of 9,428 people have been displaced, while traders and fishermen are also counting losses after their fishing nets and boats were marooned by floods.
Kalokol assistant chief Stephen Jamada said the floods have ravaged several villages that host about 762 households and in total, some 4,000 people have been displaced.
He said the villages affected include Ekoyo, Naremiat, Imprezer, Loroo, Natiira, Natelewa and Tarach.
Paul Lonyei, the assistant chief of Eliye springs in Kangatotha ward, said more than 500 households with about 2,500 people in his area have been displaced.
He said the floods have destroyed the dry beaches, hotels, homes, government offices, business Christine camp, Bahamas, Eliye springs and Napak tented camp.
Ngimuria chief in Kerio, Vincent Chuman, said 2,928 people in his area have also been displaced.
In Turkana North, landing beaches that have been submerged include Kaito, Kalokol, Todonyang, Kariekuk, Naiyani and Esanyait with their administrative offices all marooned.
Residents say since March, Lake Turkana's water levels have been on the rise, hindering their fishing activities. This has consequently affected their livelihoods.
Joseph Ekidor, a fisherman and resident of Imprezer village, said his homestead, fishing nets, food, shelter and other goods have been swept away.
“We normally depend on fishing to support our livelihoods but since March, the water level of Lake Turkana has been rising. and this has worried fishermen to an extent of abandoning their fishing nets," Ekidor said.
“The area we have been living in peacefully without any interference has been flooded with water and all our goods destroyed. We don’t know what to do because for now, we can’t even get to the lake to catch fish to eat,” he added.
Ekidor blamed the rains pounding parts of Ethiopia for the rising water levels.
He appealed to the county and national governments as well as humanitarian agencies for aid such as provision of food, shelter, tents, mosquito nets, fishing nets, clothes and other commodities.
Other lakes in the Rift Valley that are experiencing high water levels include Baringo, Bogoria and Nakuru.
Governor Josephat Nanok has warned people living and trading along the shores of Lake Turkana to move to avoid loss of lives and property.
He said the lake has surged to unprecedented levels from 500 metres to 800 metres, claiming the once dry beaches, hotels, homes, government offices and displacement of people.
He said the situation exposes people to crocodiles and hippos attacks.
“It is evident that people have lost jobs as fishing activities have been interrupted, some hotels have been submerged and thus the fishing folk as well as residents have lost businesses. The effect has already been felt in Turkana North and Turkana Central subcounties,” he said.
Edited by EKibii