The Audio Long Read From the archive: A drowning world: Kenya’s quiet slide underwater
Nov 5, 2025
Explore the alarming impact of climate change in Kenya, where rising lakes are displacing thousands. Carey Baraka uncovers how scientists first noted the flooding and the limited government response. Listen to harrowing stories from communities facing submerged schools and dangerous wildlife. Delve into local theories about these rapid changes and find out how increased rainfall is linked to the crisis. With the urgency for international aid growing, the environmental toll on wildlife and the landscape reveals a devastating reality.
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Satellite Evidence Of Widespread Flooding
- Geologist Simon Oniwere noticed multiple Kenyan lakes had rapidly expanded using satellite images and local reports.
- The simultaneous flooding across lakes suggested a regional environmental shift rather than isolated incidents.
Schools Submerged And Education Disrupted
- George Akaio described how Lake Baringo rose from December 2019 and submerged 11 schools by March 2020.
- Students returned to classes in tents or under trees and attendance dropped dramatically due to lost school buildings.
Students Learning Beside Hippos
- At Ngambo Primary, pupils learned beneath trees and red-cross tents after classrooms moved nine miles away underwater.
- Hippos and crocodiles regularly appeared near former school sites, creating safety hazards for students.