The Kenyan government is advancing plans for a large-scale irrigation project aimed at reducing the swelling water levels of Lake Baringo, which have raised concerns over a potential merger with neighbouring Lake Bogoria.
Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru revealed that a high-level meeting with the Principal Secretary for Irrigation and technical teams took place to explore interventions addressing the lake's rapid expansion.
Rising Water Levels Pose Ecological Threat
Lake Baringo has experienced a water level increase of 12 to 14 metres over the past 15 years, adding approximately two billion cubic metres of water. This has caused the lake's surface area to grow from 108 to about 130 square kilometres.
Mariru warned that without urgent action, the freshwater Lake Baringo could merge with the adjacent saline Lake Bogoria, potentially triggering a severe ecological disaster due to the contrasting ecosystems.
The rising waters have already submerged homes, schools, roads, and other infrastructure, displacing communities and disrupting livelihoods around the lake.
Irrigation Scheme to Evacuate Excess Water
To mitigate the crisis, the government is considering a project to divert excess water from Lake Baringo through irrigation covering roughly 100,000 acres across Baringo and parts of Turkana County.
- The Ministry of Defence will oversee construction of evacuation tunnels and the canal network required to transport the water.
- The scheme is planned under a private investment model.
- The initial phase of the project is already underway.
Mariru expressed optimism that the initiative will not only stabilise water levels but also enhance agricultural productivity and economic opportunities in the arid and semi-arid regions of northern Kenya.
