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Effects of Extreme Flooding of Lake Baringo on Livelihoods of Communities Lining around the Lake
No full textFloods are among the natural disasters that often impact society. Floods tend
to be more short lived but more disastrous. Between 2012 and 2014, Lake Baringo experienced unprecedented increases in their water levels, resulting in
calamitous flooding that has inundated entire villages. A study was conducted
to establish among others the impacts of this flooding on livestock, health and
livelihoods. This paper discusses the effects of extreme flooding of Lake Baringo on livelihoods of communities living around the lake. The data was
collected qualitatively from key informants. The data was analysed thematically and presented qualitatively. The paper argues that extreme flooding had
adverse effects on livelihoods as farmlands and grazing pasture land were inundated. Families and households were displaced further breaking not just
their pursuit of livelihoods but also social networks. Businesses, including
tourist and fisheries as well as value chains were impaired thus leading to
challenges in sustaining lives and livelihoods. While adaptation is an important way forward, early warning mechanisms would need to be put in place to
ensure safeguards to livelihoods
