By Joshua Sese
Lying on the floor of the Rift Valley between Laikipia Escarpment and Tugen Hills in Baringo County, Lake Baringo Key Biodiversity Area is a rare freshwater lake in a landscape dominated by saline systems. Fed mainly by the Molo and Perkerra perennial rivers, the lake is surrounded by acacia woodlands, wetlands, volcanic outcrops, and open semi-arid plains. It serves as a key socio-economic and environmental asset for the county, supporting fisheries, tourism, and local livelihoods whilst generating revenue and investment opportunities.
The lake is an internationally recognised Important Bird Area and Ramsar site, hosting more than 470 bird species, including fish eagles, kingfishers, herons, darters and migratory waterbirds, making it one of Kenya’s most celebrated birding destinations. It also supports hippos, Nile crocodiles, and native fish species.
Today, Lake Baringo faces serious and interconnected conservation challenges. Over the past 15 years, water levels have risen dramatically, leading to widespread flooding, displacement of communities, and impacts on livelihoods and wildlife. This has been attributed to catchment degradation in upstream areas driven by deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable land use practices. Instead of slowly percolating into the ground, rainfall now rushes down to the lake, carrying silt.
The result is severe soil erosion and high sedimentation, which increases water turbidity and reduces habitat quality. The lake shore is also affected by invasive species, notably the thorny Prosopis juliflora, which has displaced native vegetation and reduced grazing land. Additional pressures include unsustainable fishing practices, shoreline encroachment, and rising human-wildlife conflict.
In response to these challenges, a range of conservation actions are being implemented to restore and safeguard Lake Baringo. Catchment restoration efforts, including reforestation, soil and water conservation measures, and protection of riparian zones, aim to reduce erosion and sedimentation at source.
Community-based natural resource management initiatives are promoting sustainable fishing practices, compliance with regulations, and livelihood diversification to ease pressure on the lake. Control and productive use of invasive species, especially Prosopis juliflora, are helping to reclaim degraded land, whilst wetland and shoreline protection, environmental education, and ecotourism development are strengthening local stewardship and climate resilience.
Together, these efforts highlight Lake Baringo as a living landscape where science, conservation, and community action work hand in hand. Protecting the lake is not only about conserving a freshwater ecosystem of national and global importance, but also about securing the future of the people and wildlife that depend on its ever-changing waters.