- Rising waters from Lakes Baringo and Bogoria have submerged classrooms, toilets and roads at over a dozen schools, forcing some learners to cross flooded areas by boat.
- The Government has announced plans to relocate affected schools and has deployed a multi-agency team, including the Kenya Defence Forces, to assess and respond to the crisis.
For hundreds of learners in Baringo, getting to school has become a dangerous undertaking as rising waters from Lakes Baringo and Bogoria continue to swallow classrooms, toilets, roads and homes.
At least 11 schools have been affected, with classrooms and sanitation facilities at institutions such as Loruk Primary, Nasukuro Primary, Kiserian Primary and Lake Baringo Primary partially submerged.
For some pupils, the journey to class now involves crossing waters where crocodiles and hippos have been sighted. Learners at Laroo Comprehensive School, for example, have been forced to rely on small wooden boats to cross the flooded waters, a dangerous commute that has also caused delays in reaching school on time.
Parents and education stakeholders fear the situation could expose children to drowning and wildlife attacks, particularly at a time when candidates are preparing for national examinations.
Dan Barkolwa said schools in Perkerra and Baringo South were among those affected and urged authorities to act before the situation worsens. “Measures should be put in place to ensure candidates are safe and do their exams without fear,” he said.
The Government has indicated that affected schools could be relocated to safer ground. Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuua has announced plans to move schools threatened by the rising waters, offering a potential lifeline to learners whose classrooms are becoming increasingly unsafe.
ALSO READ:
But the education crisis is only one part of a much larger disaster unfolding around the two lakes. Homes, hotels, hospitals and other facilities have been submerged, while hundreds of families have been displaced after thousands of acres of land were consumed by the rising waters.
A multi-agency team is now assessing the situation and planning emergency and long-term interventions. Climate Change Department Director Dr Pacifica Ogola said the Government was working with the Kenya Defence Forces and other agencies to protect communities living around the lakes. “We are requesting the local communities to give us their solutions and provide the exact number of those who are affected for them to be considered,” Ogola said.
The team has 90 days to develop preparedness measures ahead of the expected October and November rains, which officials fear could further raise water levels. Among the proposed interventions are the construction of dykes, outlet canals and tunnels to drain excess water.
Residents have welcomed the proposals but want their losses addressed. Jonathan Tireito, a resident of Loboi, said his community had watched Lake Bogoria expand slowly over the years before the waters began consuming large portions of their land. Families who had farmed and kept livestock there for decades, he said, are now living as squatters. He urged the Government to consider compensating residents whose land has been permanently swallowed by the lake.
Residents have also raised concerns about changing river courses. Michael Kiptishia said the Loboi and Waseges rivers had changed direction and were now draining into Lake Bogoria instead of Lake Baringo. He proposed redirecting the rivers and building check dams upstream to reduce erosion and siltation.
ALSO READ: Wiyeta Girls’ principal Esther Kibor transferred to Uasin Gishu County after four years of sporting success
The crisis is also threatening tourism and wildlife. Michael Kimeli, an official at Lake Bogoria National Game Reserve, said the rising waters had reduced flamingo and wildlife numbers and displaced hippos and crocodiles into neighbouring communities.
Governor Benjamin Cheboi has urged residents in high-risk areas to move to temporary shelters while authorities pursue a permanent solution.
For Baringo’s learners, however, the immediate question remains whether they can reach their classrooms safely, and whether those classrooms will remain above water.
By Kimutai Langat
Get more stories from our website: Education News
To write to us or offer feedback, you can reach us at: editor@educationnews.co.ke
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
