Why homes and schools offer no safety from swelling Lake Baringo

A resident in Loruk, Baringo county carries his sheep through the flooded Marigat-Loruk road on September 3, 2025, as Lake Baringo's surging waters cripple transport and endanger communities. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard] At almost 9am, tens of school-going children are balancing against the tides sweeping along the Marigat-Loruk road. It is long past the official school reporting time, but in Loruk no one follows the school clock anymore. Lake Baringo has set a new schedule. Every morning, parents and teachers perform the same grim ritual of surveying the submerged roads for safe passage, checking the school grounds for crocodiles and hippos. Only then can the day begin. "It is no longer business as usual. The morning starts with scooping water from the house and making sure the surroundings are clear before I let the children out, since there are many crocodiles and hippos," says Gladys Chepotipin. For many learners, crossing submerged roads on their way to school has become a nightmare. Besides the rising water levels, which pose a particular danger to younger pupils, they also face the threat of wild animals roaming the area. "The biggest challenge that the learners now face is encountering crocodiles and hippopotamuses along the road. A bridge needs to be urgently constructed to allow learners to access schools without endangering their lives," Aaron Cheburet, a resident said. Teachers report that increasing water levels have disrupted school operations and altered reporting times. Learners are not even safe at home, as many houses are now submerged. More danger At Loruk Primary School, pupils risk attacks from crocodiles and hippos as lake waters encroach on the school compound. Break times are no longer usual, with children confined to certain sections considered safer by teachers. Motorists navigate the submerged Marigat-Loruk road on September 3, 2025, after Lake Baringo's swelling waters flooded the key route, forcing many to risk dangerous crossings. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard] According to village elder Chepyator Johanna, security in schools has become a serious concern, as wild animals like hippos have turned playgrounds into grazing fields. "With the advancing waters, some schools like Loruk Primary need fences to keep the learners safe from wild animals. It is very dangerous because wild animals often stray into the compound and teachers struggle to ensure learners are protected. Putting up a fence is urgent," Chepyator said. Given past attacks in the area, parents argue that learners in such hardship zones should be provided with lunch at school. "The challenge is that the learners often go back home for lunch and resume afternoon lessons. This exposes them to more danger since they have to cross submerged roads up to four times a day. The government should ensure that these learners are provided with lunch at school," said Kennedy Komen, a member of the board at Loruk Primary. Numerous losses Baringo Fishermen Cooperative Chairman, Joshua Chepsergon, said fluctuating water levels in Lake Baringo have already caused numerous losses. In 2020, when the lake rose, health facilities, hotels, homes and even schools were submerged. Loruk pupils, some accompanied by their parents, wade through the flooded Marigat-Loruk road on September 3, 2025, after rising waters from Lake Baringo cut off transport routes. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard] "And just when businesses were resuming and people had started rebuilding lives and renovating buildings, the water levels are increasing again," he noted. Even as communities struggle to adapt, some facilities have come up with innovative ways to keep businesses afloat. At Soi Safari Lodge, suspended bridges have become a new attraction, allowing visitors to access partially submerged buildings. "We had to come up with innovative approaches for the business to stay afloat. The engineers had to rework the facility to allow visitors access to some rooms, which interestingly is receiving a lot of attention from tourists. We had to adapt to the changing environments," said Augustine Onyango, a staff member at the facility. Recently, researchers at the Wildlife Research and Training Institute warned that water levels across all the Rift Valley lakes have risen dramatically, calling for urgent study.

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