Life near the edge of Lake Turkana is a daily struggle for water. At dawn near the village of Moite, Achino Lobok and Elizabeth Atapar set off on their daily journey to fetch water—a task that defines life for many women in this arid region of northern Kenya. Walking over two kilometers to reach shallow, hand-dug wells, they collect water that is not safe. It’s shared with animals and often contaminated with sand. Despite the health risks, including typhoid and amoebic dysentery, they have no alternative.

 

Climate Change and the Expanding Lake

 

Lake Turkana, the world’s largest permanent desert lake, is growing—swallowing land, homes, and infrastructure. Climate change, deforestation, and poor land management have intensified rainfall, causing the lake to expand, submerging around 800 square kilometers in just a decade. What’s more, the water is salty and so not suitable for drinking. While some aid projects have tried to provide drinking water, many have failed due to poor planning or rising salinity. Achino, a shop owner, highlights how the lack of clean water forces women to close their businesses, deepening the cycle of poverty.

 

Efforts are underway to better understand community needs to provide targeted solutions. UNESCO is conducting feasibility studies to explore boreholes or lake water treatment options. In the town of Loiyangalani, a water project serves thousands, but infrastructure issues and the lake’s unpredictable expansion threaten its sustainability. Meanwhile, researchers are studying fish stocks in the lake to boost food security. With more targeted and resilient interventions, there is hope that the people of Lake Turkana can build a more secure future.