“Water is the number one natural resource”: Lake Turkana photo essay

Published January 2023

Climate crisis and natural resource management

The Lake Turkana Basin in arid northern Kenya is undergoing profound environmental stress due to changes in its climate. Because of the salinity of the lake itself, people in the region rely heavily on groundwater and the very few rivers. Recent years have seen wells and rivers dry up, forcing pastoralist and fishing communities to migrate into new areas. Conflict over land and resources has been a common occurrence.

The Water, Peace and Security (WPS) partnership works with community organisations to identify potential water-related conflict hotspots before violence erupts, begin to understand the local context, prioritise opportunities for interventions and undertake capacity development and dialogue activities.

Since beginning work in the Lake Turkana region in 2021, the partnership has seen improved engagement by facilitating peaceful dialogue between communities that had previously been in conflict.

In three essays we’ve explored the experiences of the people affected by climate change and conflict in the Lake Turkana region.

Part one

Part two

Part three

Learn more about WPS in Kenya

In this photo essay we meet more of our partners and hear from affected communities – in their own words.

Narogoe Ebenyo Maisa, a pastoralist and chair of the Kibish Water Resource User Association

Water is the number one natural resource in the community. The water table has gone down because of lack of rainfall, causing water scarcity in the community.
Narogoe Ebenyo Maisa, a pastoralist and chair of the Kibish Water Resource User Association

A mother and her children at their Manyata homestead.

A man fetching water from a shallow well in a dry river bed.

Philemon Ekaale, a fisherman from Todonyang

God might be unhappy with human beings and that is why we don’t receive rainfall as usual.
Philemon Ekaale, a fisherman from Todonyang

Two fishermen preparing their nets before going out to fish at Impresa beach in Kalokol town.

Fish drying under the sun at Impresa beach in Kalokol town.

Shalley Adan Kulow, a trader from Todonyang

Drought has changed how we access water because nearby shallow wells dried up long ago. The lake is the new source of water for pastoralists and herders. It has led to conflict where livestock owners strive to get water for their livestock.
Shalley Adan Kulow, a trader from Todonyang

A big shallow well that supplies Kalokol town with water, with the dry river bed in the background.

Muchu Lomorukai Kerio, vice chair of the Council of Elders and National Police Reserve constable

My role aids in settling the disputes or conflict that arise from water resources use by the community. This role also allows me to arrange the pattern in which livestock and people get water in the lake. Shifts are encouraged when livestock come in large numbers to drink water from the lake.
Muchu Lomorukai Kerio, vice chair of the Council of Elders and National Police Reserve constable

Kalokol residents transporting supplies.

Bernard Chirchir, KWS Sibiloi senior county warden, answering questions addressed to his department.

Charles Losike, a plumber and vice chair of the Kibish Water Association

The WPS project is engaging the community and conducted a number of dialogues to forge peaceful coexistence in the area. The situation changed. No life has been lost in recent months. Cross border trade is almost taking shape again.
Charles Losike, a plumber and vice chair of the Kibish Water Association

Photos by Martin Mwangi/International Alert