Revisiting the Rising Rift Valley Lakes: A Glimpse into Kihoto's Struggles

This case study by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the impact of the 2020 floods in Naivasha, Kenya, specifically focusing on the Kihoto informal settlement. It details the displacement of residents, the loss of livelihoods, and the intersection of climate-driven flooding with the Covid-19 pandemic, while documenting the community's resilience and their specific demands for government support and infrastructure.

• Between 2010 and 2020, mean annual rainfall increased by 30%, contributing to an inexplicable rise in Lake Naivasha's water levels since 2018. This culminated in catastrophic floods in April and May 2020 that lasted nearly a year, resulting in over 200 deaths and the displacement of more than 160,000 families across Kenya.
• In the Kihoto and Kamere Beach areas, rising lake levels attributed to climate change displaced over 1,400 residents. The floods devastated local livelihoods by impacting crop fields and flower farms and making fishing impossible.
• The disaster's impact was compounded byn by the Covid-19 pandemic, which occurred shortly before the floods. The pandemic led to the closure of workstations like flower farms, increasing vulnerability and contributing to a subsequent cholera outbreak and increased theft and vandalism of assets.
• The floods caused severe social and psychological distress, including the dissolution of self-help groups (chamas), a reported increase in gender-based violence, and psychological trauma. Persons with disabilities faced extreme challenges, such as difficulty evacuating and financial hardship due to lost land assets.
• Residents of Kihoto expressed a strong desire to remain in the settlement due to its affordability and proximity to lake resources, but they are open to relocation if provided with compensation based on property value and guarantees against future displacement.
• The community has requested specific government interventions, including the construction of dikes (similar to those in the Netherlands), improved drainage and water systems, security lights, and the establishment of secondary schools and markets.
• Persons with disabilities in the community are calling for a clear framework for their involvement in development, public sensitization to reduce discrimination, tax exemptions for their businesses, and the creation of special needs schools.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2023). Revisiting the Rising Rift Valley Lakes: A Glimpse into Kihoto's Struggles. https://www.sei.org/features/revisiting-the-rising-rift-valley-lakes-a-glimpse-into-kihotos-struggles/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Revisiting the Rising Rift Valley Lakes: A Glimpse into Kihoto's Struggles. 2023. https://www.sei.org/features/revisiting-the-rising-rift-valley-lakes-a-glimpse-into-kihotos-struggles/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Revisiting the Rising Rift Valley Lakes: A Glimpse into Kihoto's Struggles |date=11 May 2023 |url=https://www.sei.org/features/revisiting-the-rising-rift-valley-lakes-a-glimpse-into-kihotos-struggles/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2023revisiting, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Revisiting the Rising Rift Valley Lakes: A Glimpse into Kihoto's Struggles}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://www.sei.org/features/revisiting-the-rising-rift-valley-lakes-a-glimpse-into-kihotos-struggles/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }