Lake Baringo
Experience and Lessons Learned Brief
Eric O. Odada*, Department of Geology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya, pass@uonbi.ac.ke
Japheth Onyando, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya
Peninah A. Obudho, Department of Zoology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya
* Corresponding author
1. Introduction
·
African Land Development (ALDEV) for grazing schemes
and provision of water, 1940s;
Lake Baringo is named after the local word `Mparingo',
meaning lake. The lake is located in the Eastern Rift Valley in
·
Kenya Livestock Development Programme (KLDP) for
Kenya and is one of the seven inland drainage lakes within
group ranches, 1960-1970; and,
the Rift Valley drainage basin. The lake has a surface area of
about 108 km2 and drains a total area of 6,820 km2 (Figure 1).
·
FAO project for Fuel and Fodder, 1982-1987.
The lake is located in the administrative district of Baringo at
an altitude of 1,000 m above sea level, while its basin extends
The approaches adopted by the stakeholders for the sustainable
to the neighboring districts of Koibatek, Laikipia and Nakuru.
management of the lake basin include empowering local
Several seasonal rivers drain into the lake, including Ol Arabel,
communities for natural resource management, diversifi cation
Makutan, Tangulbei, Endao and Chemeron. Perkerra and Molo
of agriculture, agro-forestry systems, and micro-enterprises.
are perennial rivers, although with signifi cantly reduced water
In addition to these activities, fi shing moratoria, and soil and
discharges during dry seasons. Lake Baringo experiences very
water conservation practices also are in place in the lake and
high annual evaporation rates of 1,650-2,300 mm, compared
its basin. These practices tend to reduce degradation either
to an annual rainfall of 450-900 mm. Thus, its survival depends
on the infl ows from rivers originating from the humid hillslopes
of the drainage basin, where the annual rainfall varies between
1,100 mm and 2,700 mm.
As a freshwater body, Lake Baringo is important to the
communities in its basin as a source of water for domestic
use and livestock consumption. Other important uses are
income generation through tourism, biodiversity conservation
and fi shing. The fi sh species composition of the lake include
Oreochromis niloticus, Protopterus aethiopicus, Clarias
gariepinus, Barbus intermedius and Labeo cylindricus. Three
indigenous human communities live in the basin; namely,
the Ilchamus, Pokots and Tugens. They earn their living
through pastoralism and agro-pastoralism. As pastoralists,
they keep large numbers of cattle, which overgraze the
catchment vegetation leading to enhanced soil erosion,
sedimentation in streams and the lake, and frequent fl ash
fl oods. Other activities causing degradation are deforestation
and conventional agricultural practices. Together with other
forms of degradation, including loss of biodiversity and
declines in fi sheries, these activities have drawn the attention
of the Government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
and other stakeholders of the need to carry out management
interventions with the aim of minimizing further degradation
of the lake. Past interventions for resource management in the
lake drainage basin include:
·
Baringo Semi-Arid Project (BSAP) for land rehabilitation,
1980-1989;
Figure 1. The Lake Baringo Basin.

---

by reducing pressures on certain resources, especially land,
year 2002 was based on experimental fi shing, while that for
through the provision of alternative sources of income, or 2001, the year of establishment of a fi shing moratorium, was
by effecting direct conservation measures. The institutions derived through interpolation.
involved in carrying out these management activities include
the following:
Fish is a source of food, and the sale of fi sh to nearby urban
centers also generates income for the local people. Through
·
Public Institutions. Kenya Marine and Fisheries fi shing, the lake provides employment to the fi sher folk and
Research Institute (KMFRI); Kenya Forestry Research the young tour operators who own boats. The boats are used
Institute (KEFRI); Baringo County Council; Ministry of by tourists for navigation in the lake. The lake also is an
Agriculture (MoA); Ministry of Water Resources and important tourist attraction because of its rich biodiversity,
Development (MoWR&D); Ministry of Environment and
which comprises hippos, birds and crocodiles, among others.
Natural Resources (MENR); Ministry of Livestock and Its shoreline also is used as a grazing ground for livestock,
Fisheries (MoLF); Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
especially during dry seasons when the catchment is dry
(KARI);
and grass is scarce. The local people also use the lake for
navigation to link the eastern and the western parts of Baringo
·
Private Organizations. Block Hotels;
District.
·
NGOs. World Vision; Rehabilitation of Arid Environment
Records indicate that between 1969 and 1972, the average
(RAE) Trust; and,
depth of the lake was 8 m. In early 2003, before the onset
of the long rains, the average depth was 1.7 m. The current
·
Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). Honey Care;
average depth is 2.5 m, with the deepest end of the lake being
Women's Groups.
3.5 m. This increase in water depth was due to prolonged long
rains during 2003, especially in the humid upper catchments.
The management of the lake and its basin carried out by the
The surface area of the lake has shown a decreasing trend.
above institutions in the past was mainly sectoral in nature.
Studies by Onyando (2002) revealed that the area of the lake
The need for integrated management was realized from in 1976 was 219 km2, in 1986 it was 136 km2, in 1995 it was 114
lessons learned from past projects. Thus, the involvement km2, and in 2001 it was 108 km2. Based on these trends, the
of UNEP and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) through
author extrapolated the lake's surface area into the future,
the Lake Baringo Community-Based (LBCB) Land and Water
suggesting that by 2025, the surface area will be reduced by
Management Project has facilitated integrated management of
50% if the current trend continues (Figure 3).
the lake and its basin. In this program, capacity building and
creation of awareness of local communities were undertaken,
The boundary of the drainage basin lies on the Tugen Hills
along with coordination and facilitation of the stakeholders, to
to the west, the Eldama Ravine ranges to the south, and the
facilitate sound management of Lake Baringo and its drainage
Laikipia Plateau to the east. These hills rise as high as 2,800
basin.
m above mean sea level (amsl), while the lake is at an altitude
of about 1000 m amsl. The geology of the area is mainly
2. Background
undifferentiated volcanic rocks, while the soils are of clay
type. The landscape is characterized by steep slopes from the
Lake Baringo is a freshwater lake with importance to the Tugen Hills and Eldama Ravine Highlands to the Perkerra River,
population of its drainage basin as a source of water for
domestic use and for watering livestock. It is also a source of
500
food to the community, especially fi sh. Currently, the species
composition of the lake is as follows: Oreochromis niloticus
400
(80.4%), Protopterus aethiopicus (7.95%), Clarias gariepinus
(9.8%), Barbus intermedius (0.96%) and Labeo cylindricus.
Barbus rarely appear in the fi shermen's catches, while Labeo
300
has almost disappeared from the lake since the damming of
the infl owing rivers, which interfered with its breeding habits
200
(Aloo 2002). The lake also is a source of vegetation products
such Aeshynomena elephroxylon, which is used for boat
construction, and water lily for making domestic bread (ugali).
Fish Catch (metric tons) 100
About 500 families live in Kampi ya Samaki, a center which has
grown mainly because of fi shing activities in the lake. Half of
0
the population in this center are fi shermen and 300 are fi sh
1985
1990
1995
2000
handlers, while others earn their living through activities such
Year
as boat construction. Due to an over-dependence on fi shing,
Figure 2. Trend of Fish Production in Lake Baringo
there has been a remarkable fl uctuation in fi sh production
(comprising Oreochromis, Clarias, Barbus,
(Figure 2). The estimated economic value of the fi shery for the
Protopterus and Labeo).
32 Lake
Baringo

---

grading in to gentle slopes, and fi nally to the fl ood plains of
Lake Baringo is the lifeline of the communities living in its
Marigat and Lake Baringo.
basin, especially in the vicinity of the lake. These communities
include the Pokots to the north, the Tugens to the east and
Although Lake Baringo is located in a semi-arid zone, its the Ilchamus to the south and eastern sides. The Ilchamus
catchment covers a range of climatic zones, from semi-arid
form about 50% of the riparian population, and are mainly
through semi-humid and sub-humid, to a small portion in the
pastoralists. The Ilchamus and Pokots mainly practice agro-
humid zone. The mean annual rainfalls in these zones are 450
pastoralism, with emphasis on pastoralism, while the Tugens
mm to 900 mm (semi-arid), 800 mm to 1,400 mm (semi-humid),
are primarily agriculturalists. These communities are politically
1,000 mm to 1,600 mm (sub-humid) and 1,100 to 2,700 mm
marginalized, especially the Ilchamus and the Pokots. Thus,
(humid). The mean annual potential evaporation amounts for
their poverty level is high and they have limited access to
these areas are 1,650 mm to 2,300 mm (semi-arid), 1,450 mm to
tap water, health facilities and other services. Livestock over-
2,200 mm (semi-humid), 1,300 mm to 2,100 mm (sub-humid),
grazing is a major problem in this area, since the pastoralists
and 1,200 mm to 2,000 mm (humid). The risk of crop failure is
are not willing to reduce the number of their herds to conform
25% to 75% in the semi-arid zone, 5 to 10% in the semi-humid
with the available food biomass. Their livestock is comprised
zone, 1 to 5% in the sub-humid zone and less than 1% in the
of cattle, sheep and goats. Dry seasons are critical periods
humid zone. Similarly, the potential for plant growth in these
for raising livestock, since grass is rare at that time and most
zones can be classifi ed as medium to low, high to medium,
cattle graze along the lakeshore, thereby interfering with the
high, and very high, respectively. These fi gures indicate that
lake's ecosystem. The land tenure system is group ranch,
the semi-arid zone, in which Lake Baringo is located, is a with grazing being communal. This accelerates soil erosion,
fragile environment with low natural life-sustaining properties,
as the cattle graze together and are driven together from
thereby requiring urgent conservation attention.
place to place in search of pasture. Another area of confl ict
is cattle rustling, which creates friction between communities
The rainfall characteristic of the basin is bi-modal, intense and
in the basin, hence limiting collective responsibility in the
erratic. The long rains occur in the months of April to August,
management of the lake and its basin.
while the short rains fall from October to November. Daily
rainfall monitoring in the basin dates back to 1903. Since that
The streams fl owing into Lake Baringo originate from humid
time, a total of 101 stations have been installed in the catchment
and sub-humid hillslopes, where the annual rainfall is more
by various organizations, including the Kenya Meteorological
than 1,000 mm. These hillslopes are the major recharge areas,
Department, research organizations and individuals. However,
but belong to administrative districts that, while within the
only 66 stations are currently operational. This translates basin, are not riparian to the lake (the lake is surrounded by
into a density of 97 km2/gauge, which is less than the World
the Baringo District). This creates restrictions in river basin
Meteorological Organization's (WMO) recommendation of 17
management, since the administration in every district is
km2/gauge. Streamfl ow monitoring started as early as 1926,
unique. Although some low level of interaction exists between
with a total of 26 river gauging stations having been installed
the districts, it must be enhanced to facilitate effective
at different times since then in various locations in the rivers
management of the basin's natural resources. The hillslopes,
fl owing into Lake Baringo. Most of the above stations are not
which are in the water recharge areas, have undergone
currently operational, due to poor maintenance of the gauges.
deforestation in the recent past, through land conversion to
Thus, the available data contain a lot of gaps, which is a create more land for agriculture, and through harvesting of
drawback in managing the basin's water resources.
forest products for timber, wood fuel and charcoal. The forested
areas of the catchment have decreased by about 50% since
1976. Consequently, groundwater recharge has decreased,
with streams drying up more often during the dry seasons,
220
while they cause fl ash fl oods during the rainy seasons. As
200
a result of the fl oods, loss of property and displacement of
180
)2
Observed
people has been prevalent in the lower reaches of the basin.
160
Predicted
140
ea (km
The benefi ts accruing from the lake include water for domestic
120
and livestock use, fi sheries, tourism and biodiversity. Irrigated
100
agriculture is another major benefi t derived from the water
80
Surface Ar
resources of Lake Baringo basin, mainly through water
60
abstraction from the Perkerra, Endao and Chemeron Rivers.
40
The crops grown in the irrigation schemes include maize, water
20
melons, tomatoes, onions, pawpaws and oranges, among
0
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
2030
2040
2050
others.
Year
The Lake Baringo drainage basin is endowed with rich
Figure 3. Observed and Predicted Surface Area of Lake
terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, including natural
Baringo.
vegetation, wildlife, birds and fi sheries. For example, there

Experience and Lessons Learned Brief
33

---

are about 400-500 different bird species (Gichuki 2000), most
hot spring discharge from Kokwa Island, which is located in
of which reside in areas with intact woodland and grassland
the lake. The conductivity and salinity indicate the sub-salinity
and rehabilitated lands. Such areas also have a variety of of the lake (Hammer 1986) while the high total nitrogen and
plant species. Reports also have indicated there are about total phosphorus concentrations refl ect the hypereutrophic
40-60 hippos in the lake, while crocodiles numbering about
condition of the lake.
20 also occur there. In addition to the lake, the biodiversity
offers a resource base for tourism attraction. Through tourism,
3.2 Biomass
Production
the area has been opened to other regions, both nationally
and internationally. This has promoted business enterprises
The turbid water of Lake Baringo is characterized by a greenish
and the interchange of knowledge and technologies through
color related to the presence of the dominant cyanobacterium,
interactions between the locals and foreigners. By attracting
Microcystis aeruginosa, which dominates the lake's
foreigners, the lake and its basin have attracted markets for
phytoplankton community. Primary production in the open
local agricultural and livestock products.
water is very low, due to the turbid nature of the lake water.
Thus, the phytoplankton population is limited to only the
3. Biophysical
Environment
positively-buoyant species, including Microcytis aeruginosa,
Melosira granulata and Anabaena carcinalis. The lake's high
3.1
Water Quality Conditions
turbidity limits light penetration into the water column,
resulting in low biomass production. Recent analyses revealed
The quality of water in Lake Baringo has deteriorated over time.
the concentration of phytoplankton biomass to range between
The main concern is turbidity, which has increased because
1.5-8.2 mg/L (Ballot et al. 2003). The main phytoplankton
of high rates of sedimentation resulting from increased soil
groups in Lake Baringo are shown in Table 2.
erosion in the catchment. The turbidity values recorded in
recent analysis range between 350-900 NTU, which are rather
Microcystis aeruginosa dominates in Lake Baringo, compared
high values. Related to the increased turbidity is reduced water
to the other phytoplankton, because it is able to develop gas
transparency, which is less than 0.1 m as measured by Secchi
vacuoles in its cells, allowing it to regulate its buoyancy. This
disc. Physio-chemical analyses of the lake have been carried
ability to control vertical location enables it to locate itself in
out in the past, with the most recent and reliable analysis done
the water column where it can receive relatively more light in
between June 2001 and May 2002 (Ballot et al. 2003). The
the turbid water of Lake Baringo. Other factors contributing to
parameters analyzed in this latter study are shown in Table 1.
the dominance of Microcystis are temperature and nutrient
loading. The growth rates of bloom-forming cynobacteria
As shown in Table 1, the physical conditions of Lake Baringo
like Microcystis are optimal at 25°C, which falls within the
are characterized by high temperature and low transparency.
temperature range measured in Lake Baringo (i.e., 23.7-
The pH of the lake is relatively high because of the alkaline
26.3°C). The total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN)
Table 1. The Physio-Chemical Conditions of Lake Baringo During June 2001 to May 2002.
Parameters
June 2001
November 2001
January 2002
May 2002
Water
temperature
(°C)
26.3
26.1
23.7
24.9
Secchi depth (m)

< 0.1

< 0.1

< 0.1

< 0.1
pH
9.0
8.8
9.1
9.1
Conductivity
(mS/cm)
1.66
1.39
1.51
1.67
Salinity
()
0.7
0.5
0.6
0.7
Total nitrogen (mg/L)

8.0

1.8

1.0

0.5
Total
phosphorus
(mg/L)
1.3
1.0
0.6
1.0
Source: Ballot et al. (2003).
Table 2. Mean Biomass Production of the Main Phytoplankton Groups in Lake Baringo During June 2001 to May 2002.
Phytoplankton groups (mg/L)
June 2001
November 2001
January 2002
March 2002
May 2002
Cynopyceae
5.45
1.64
0.67
0.22
2.53
Bacillariophyceae
0.26
0.19
0.04
0.46
0.03
Chlorophyceae
1.84
0.52
0.34
0.8
0.17
Euglenophyceae
0.62
0.08
0.56
0.03
0.0
Cryptophyceae
0.0
0.04
0.07
0.03
0.05
Total Biomass

8.17

2.47

1.68

1.54

2.77
Source: Ballot et al. (2003).
34 Lake
Baringo

---

concentrations of 1.0 mg/L and 2.8 mg/L, respectively, indicate
3.4 Sedimentation
high nutrient loading to the lake. However, the production
of cyanobacteria at levels between 0.2 and 5.5 mg/L is not
Sedimentation is considered to be the main environmental
commensurate with the TP and TN concentrations in the lake.
threat to the lake. It reduces both the depth and surface area
Hartebeesport Reservoir in South Africa, for example, with of the lake, in addition to destroying the habitats of aquatic
similar TP and TN concentrations, has Microcystis production
animals. The parts of the catchment that produce the most
levels between 20-50 mg/L (Zohar and Robarts, 1990). This
sediment are the steep slopes with erodable soils. Such areas
latter production level is about 10 times that of Lake Baringo,
include the footslopes of Tugen Hills around Cheberen and
thus illustrating the degree that high turbidity can limit lake
Tenges. The rates of soil erosion in these areas are as high as
production.
205.79 metric tons/hectare/year. In other areas, soil erosion
is quite low, being around 2.21 metric tons/hectare/year.
3.3
Land Use Changes
The eroded soils are deposited on the fl at lower reaches of
the drainage basin and in the lake. The estimated sediment
Although industrial and urban development in the basin have
yield of the Lake Baringo basin, as extrapolated from erosion
gradually increased over time, agricultural development has
studies of the Perkerra catchment, is 10.38 million metric tons/
increased rapidly, particularly in the upper reaches, where the
year (Onyando 2003). Other estimates made three decades
climate is conducive for such activities. The natural forest in
ago showed sediment yields of 13.5 million metric tons/year
this region also has been exploited for timber, wood fuel and
(Pencol Engineering Consultants 1981).
settlement. The benefi ts being lost as a result of deforestation
include the functioning of the forest as a moisture reservoir:
3.5
Water Abstractions and Impacts on Biodiversity
forests store 100 times more water than grasslands, capture
air moisture and increase the incidence of rainfall, regulate
In addition to siltation, reduced recharge and damming of
river fl ow and prevent fl ooding, reduce the sediment load rivers also pose a threat to the lake. The dams are meant to
in river water, and regulate rainfall patterns. In addition to
accumulate water for irrigation, and for rural and urban water
these benefi ts, forests are a center for biodiversity and attract
supply. For example, the Kirndich Dam, which covers an area
tourism. The Lake Baringo drainage basin has lost more than
of 2 km2 on the Endao River, supplies water to the town of
50% of its natural forest cover, decreasing from 829 km2 in
Kabarnet. Other dams include Chemeron Dam (area of 1 km2),
1976 to 417 km2 in the 2001. Thus, the same proportion of the
which is used for irrigation. Water diversions for irrigation also
benefi ts derived from the forests also has been lost.
have been made from the Perkerra, Molo and Ol Arabel Rivers.
These water abstractions also have contributed to reduced
The undergrowth in natural forest cover, and the humus-rich
streamfl ows. Both the lake and its rivers have been used
soil, encourage groundwater retention and recharge. This throughout their history to water animals at various points.
feature ensures a regulated streamfl ow throughout the year,
Therefore, the decreased water levels have signifi cant impacts,
compared to deforested catchments with short durations of
especially on the livelihoods of the communities living
high magnitude fl ows during the rainy seasons and reduced
downstream. This problem is likely to continue as long as the
low fl ows during the dry seasons. This phenomenon leads population in the upper catchment continues to increase.
to faster drying of rivers, as observed in Lake Baringo
drainage basin. It is worth noting that the tree species also
The reduced water infl ows to the lake resulted in a low lake
is important; eucalyptus, for example, consumes more water
depth of about 1.7 m early in 2003. Only a limited number of
and has little undergrowth, thereby leading to faster depletion
aquatic animals can survive under such conditions. The fi sh
of sub-surface water reserves. When cut, such trees can community, for example, has been very much impacted by this
cause low fl ows to increase. Other species, such as Luceana
situation, with over-fi shing also threatening their survival. The
leucocephala, use less water and encourage undergrowth, soil
mean size of Oreochromis niloticus, for example, decreased to
water retention, and groundwater recharge in a manner similar
15 cm, necessitating a fi shing moratorium in the 2001. Other
to natural forests. When cut, such trees and forests can cause
fi sh species (e.g., Barbus and Labeo, which migrate upstream
low fl ows to decrease.
to spawn) are presently close to extinction in the lake.
The effects of climate change in the region are evident from
3.6 Socioeconomic
Factors
the decreasing snow coverage on top of Mounts Kenya and
Kilimanjaro. This is attributed to global warming, which Socio-economic factors also have had both direct and indirect
increases the temperature of the air. Deforestation facilitates
impacts on the lake. These include:
the accumulation of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide,
in the atmosphere. These gases can cause global warming ·
Increased demands for developing and using lake
and, hence, higher atmospheric temperatures. Increased air
resources such as fi sh, water, and tourist facilities;
temperatures can lead to increased evaporation from the
lake, resulting in a reduced water level in the lake. Overall, the
·
Limited public awareness and understanding of human
potential effects of climate change on Lake Baringo are not yet
impacts on the lake including low literacy levels, cultural
been well understood, due to a lack of reliable data.
beliefs, and stratifi cation within communities;

Experience and Lessons Learned Brief
35

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· Insuffi cient governance and accountability systems Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries. This ministry was
which involves inadequate consultation, a lack of created recently as part of government reforms to further
expertise, and insuffi cient mobilization of institutions to
streamline fi sheries and livestock departments. The Fisheries
address problems;
Department in this ministry operates under the Fisheries Act.
The department's role is to prevent illegal fi shing and the use
·
High poverty levels which compound disasters due to
of illegal gear sizes. It also recommends provision of licenses
droughts and fl oods, low crop yields and low livestock
to fi shermen and transporters. The Livestock Department
returns; and,
provides extension services on livestock management. It also
is involved in re-seeding of degraded rangelands, livestock
·
Finally, poor land management with cultivation of improvement and marketing. The ministry also has affi liated
river banks and cultivation of steep slopes without research institutions, both national and international, which
conservation measures.
are involved in livestock research.
3.7 Other
Problems
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute. This is a public research
institution under the Ministry of Agriculture. It is responsible
Other environmental and sustainability problems associated
for agriculture-based research, including developing drought
with the lake include invasive species, especially Prosopis
resistant crops, fast maturing crops, and disseminating
julifl ora, a fast-spreading shrub with hairy evergreen leaves.
research fi ndings.
It was introduced in 1982 and has spread to cover much of the
grazing land in Baringo District, especially around the lake.
Ministry of Water Resources Development. This ministry
The shrub forms an extensive and impenetrable thicket that
is responsible for water resources management and
gradually chokes out other plants, including the acacia tree
development within the lake basin. It operates under the
and grass, leaving much of the soil bare and prone to erosion.
Water Act, and provides guidelines on water abstraction and
It has deep roots, and is likely to be linked to the lowering of
borehole development, among other topics.
the water table in the areas that it colonizes. It has aroused
concern among the pastoralists, especially the Ilchamus, since
Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. This ministry
it chokes out all the grass upon which their cattle depend.
is responsible for environmental conservation in the catchment,
including its rivers and the lake. It advises the Government on
4. Management
Environment
the use of natural resources in such a way as to minimize
environmental degradation. It also promotes environmentally-
4.1 Institutional
Roles
friendly management interventions. Its activities are enshrined
in the Environmental Act.
The goal of management of the lake and its basin is its
sustainability and that of its biotic communities, while at Ministry of Agriculture. This is a public institution responsible
the same time benefi ting the populace through wise use of
for improving food production, while at the same time
its resources. For effective management of Lake Baringo's conserving the resources to ensure a sustainable supply
resources, a management plan is necessary, but has not yet
of food needs. Its activities involve carrying out extension
been developed. The management efforts in the past have services on modern farming techniques, creating awareness
been sectoral. The involved institutions and their roles in on the sustainable use of resources, and educating farmers,
managing the lake and its basin are outlined below.
among other tasks.
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute. This is a Kenya Wildlife Services. This is a public institution responsible
public research institution, with the responsibility of carrying
for wildlife management. It controls, as necessary, the
out research on fi sh production and the quality of the lake
population of predators to minimize human-wildlife confl ict.
water as related to fi sh production. It provides statistics on
fi sh trends and lake productivity, with its operation enshrined
Baringo County Council. This council is composed of elected
in the Fisheries Act.
leaders from the district. It owns the trust land where the lake
is located. It collects taxes from revenue generated from the
Kenya Forestry Research Institute. This also is a public lake. The taxes are ploughed back, through facilitation of its
research institution, mandated to carry out research on agro-
personnel, who oversee the overall management of the lake.
forestry systems, preservation of indigenous tree species
and development of environmentally-friendly tree species. Rehabilitation of Arid Environment (RAE) Trust. This is a non-
The trees are planted in the catchment and used for various
governmental organization (NGO), which undertakes planting
purposes, depending on the species. Some uses include and regeneration of indigenous trees and grasses in badly-
conservation of soil and water, as wind breaks, and as sources
eroded lands within the basin.
of fodder, wood fuel and timber, among others.
World Vision. World Vision is an NGO, which provides famine
relief to families affected by extended droughts, and which
36 Lake
Baringo

---

have lost crops and other resources. Assistance also is given
extensive felling of trees for timber, and recommendations
to those who have lost property due to fl oods. The objective is
made to the central Government for timber to be imported.
to enable them to recover from their losses and resume their
livelihood activities as rapidly as possible.
In other cases in which there is a deliberate illegal use of
resources, law enforcers are encouraged to keep vigilance and
Honey Care. This is a CBO responsible for promoting honey
arrest the involved parties. In cases of illegal fi shing, scouts
production and sale. Honey is an important resource in the
carry out surveillance in the lake and arrest poachers. The
Baringo District, providing an alternative source of income to
scouts are armed in order to eradicate forceful poaching. Apart
the local people.
from scouts, local chiefs, the administrators in the localities,
have the mandate from the provincial administration to
Women's Groups. These comprise CBOs composed of women,
enforce legislation. Cases of arrests have been recorded in the
with a common goal of improving livelihoods. They operate
Lake Baringo area, with illegal gear sizes of less than 4-inches
micro-enterprises as alternative sources of income. Such being burned in public.
enterprises relieve consumption pressures on the lake and
its resources, thereby contributing to improved resource 4.3
Research and Science
management.
Research and science are prerequisites for effective resource
Block Hotels. This is a private organization operating the management. Through research and scientifi c studies,
three-star hotel, Lake Baringo Club, near the lake. The lake
inferences from analysis of statistics of natural phenomena
and its rich biodiversity attract tourists, from which the and biodiversity can be made and incorporated in management
hotel generates income. As a direct benefi ciary, the Block plans. For example, provision of data on bird life, allowing the
Hotels, in turn, participate in lake management, thereby also
numbers of various birds of different species to be determined,
contributing to the sustainability of the lake, which also helps
is essential for establishing bird sanctuaries.
sustain their business.
Research linkages have been made with both local and
4.2 Legislation
international universities. Examples include Egerton and
Kenyatta Universities in Kenya and the University of Uppsala
The lake management program operates on the basis of in Sweden. The research fi ndings have been disseminated to
government legislation and policies. It is linked to other rural communities through Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA).
programs, such as the National Action Plan on Desertifi cation,
Such research fi ndings provide a basis for recommendations
National Biodiversity Action Plan, Poverty Reduction Strategy
for sustainable resource management based on available
Paper, and National Wetland Management. All these have a
resources and capacity. The fi sh ban, for example, was a
common objective of sustainable use of natural resources recommendation based on research fi ndings, resulting in
to meet livelihood needs. The legislative framework to improved quality and quantity of the fi sh catch. The improved
enforce management initiatives operates under various acts
catches made the practice readily acceptable to fi shermen.
of the Kenya Government, including the Fisheries Act, Water
Act, Agriculture Act, Forest Act, Land Control Act, and Land
4.4 Management
Strategies
Planning Act.
Mitigation measures undertaken to control degradation in the
The enforcement laws are contained in the acts, which in basin include the control of soil erosion through terracing,
the past have been implemented sectorally. However, the contour farming and gully control, among other actions. Stone
Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) walls and desert plants (e.g., cactus) also are used to trap
was enacted in 1999 to harmonize all the environmental sediments in the fl ood plains. Construction of check dams
management laws scattered throughout the various existing
and semi-circular bands to reduce overland fl ow rate also is
acts. The implementation of this act is overseen by the undertaken. Afforestation and control of tree cutting are other
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). At the
control measures done to minimize degradation. However,
local level, District Environmental Committees and Village these techniques are long-term interventions requiring time,
Environmental Committees have been established to ensure
up to a decade or more in some cases, to counteract the lake's
that environmental management initiatives are implemented.
degradation.
These committees operate by encouraging the local
communities to participate in environmental management Other management measures include re-seeding with high-
activities.
yielding pasture, conservation of wetlands around the lake,
and agro-forestry practices in the lake catchment using fodder
In cases where serious degradation is taking place, or where
trees. In addition to these measures, water harvesting and
it is anticipated as a result of human activities, gazettment
groundwater supplies are undertaken to provide alternative
can be done by the minister concerned as a measure to stop
sources of water. Diversifi cation of alternative livelihood
the degradation. This has been done in forest areas following
opportunities is encouraged to reduce exploitation pressures

Experience and Lessons Learned Brief
37

---

on lake resources. One possible way to do this is through and agro-forestry, tourism development and biodiversity,
facilitation of micro-enterprises.
micro-enterprises, and water resources management. Through
its designation as a Ramsar site in 2001, Lake Baringo is now
A fi shing moratorium involving the local communities recognized as a wetland of international importance, therefore
was implemented to improve fi sh stocks in the lake. The open to funding opportunities to conserve its resources,
moratorium was instituted after recognition of dwindling support livelihood opportunities and reduce land degradation.
fi sh stocks, based on monitoring efforts by Kenya Marine The management plan under development is aimed at
and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) and the Fisheries integrating all the sectoral plans, and is in accordance with
Department. The fi sherfolk were experiencing losses in the Ramsar Convention. Lake Baringo itself is in trust land,
income due to dwindling fi sh stocks; thus, it was not diffi cult
with its management under the jurisdiction of the Baringo
for them to accept the moratorium in anticipation of better
County Council. The council focuses on income-generating
yields in the future. When a monitoring report was presented
activities (e.g., tourism, fi shing), however, with little attention
by KMFRI and Fisheries Department, they readily agreed to
given to catchment conservation. With the development and
impose the moratorium, which involved instituting a fi shing
implementation of an integrated management plan, therefore,
ban until the fi sh stock improved. The moratorium was it is anticipated that the management of the lake and its basin
enforced by the Fishermen Cooperative and the Fisheries will be diversifi ed, and include both income and non-income
Department. It involved regular surveillance to control illegal
generating activities, as well as incorporating all stakeholders.
fi shing, as well as ensuring the use of recommended gear
ratios when the ban was lifted. Although fi shing is a major
4.5 Confl icts and Constraints
income-generating activity for the communities around the
lake, they are not entirely dependent on it, but also engage
The institutions responsible for managing Lake Baringo are
in agro-pastoralism and micro-enterprises. During the fi shing
not devoid of constraints; this hinders the sound management
ban, therefore, they concentrated on these other livelihood
of the lake. One constraint is the lack of resources, such as
opportunities. However, regulated subsistence fi shing, using
boats for surveillance. The Fisheries Department, for example,
hooks, was allowed to continue among the communities has been incapacitated and could not carry out regular
living on the island. Some opposition to the moratorium was
surveillance for an extended period of time, due to lack of
noted from a few individuals, who continued to poach. This
motorized boats. This has resulted in cases of illegal fi shing
situation, however, diminished with time, following community
during the period of the ban. Coordination of stakeholder
participation in surveillance and education facilitated by the
activities is another constraint in managing the lake. This is
LBCB land and water management project.
because every stakeholder has a program of activities, which
may not conform to others, in as much as they have a common
The progress in increasing fi sh production during the goal of sustainable management of natural resources. Confl ict
moratorium was monitored by the Fisheries Department of interest is another drawback in lake management. This is
and KMFRI. The outcome of the exercise was disseminated
particularly so with the local communities, who exploit the
to stakeholders through quarterly reports and stakeholder resources of the lake and its basin to meet their livelihood
forums. Recent spot checks showed that the ban, instituted
needs. The fi shing ban may confl ict with the interest of the
about two years ago, has allowed Tilapia (Oreonchromis
fi shermen to meet their livelihood needs through fi shing
niloticus) to grow to an average size of 29 cm, from the previous
activities.
average of 15 cm. To prevent future moratoria, overfi shing
should be minimized by requiring use of the correct-sized Grazing of cattle along the lakeshore, especially during dry
fi shing gear, regulating the number of licensed fi shermen,
seasons, is another area that has generated controversy.
and regular surveillance to prevent illegal fi shing. In contrast
The pastoralists keep large herds of cattle, which cannot be
to the fi sh moratorium, erosion control in grazing lands has
sustained by the available biomass, especially during dry
had little success. This is because, when compared to the lake,
seasons. Consequently, they enter the lakeshore areas, where
a common resource, the cattle which cause overgrazing are
their cattle graze and destroy the habitats of other plants
individually owned by pastoralists, who are reluctant to control
and animal species. Control of the number of the herds as a
herd numbers to conform with the land's carrying capacity.
management strategy is a practice which is not acceptable
to the pastoralists. As an alternative, a participatory range
Wildlife conservation and community-based water projects management plan that regulates access to grazing lands and
also are being undertaken to further reduce degradation of the
movement of herds could be developed and implemented.
lake and its resources. Some of the biodiversity conservation
The plan could be derived from traditional systems, with
activities are fi sh and bird counts, protecting endangered involvement of pastoralists and enforcement by elders.
species, prohibition of illegal poaching, and establishment of
Through CBOs, rotational grazing can be introduced, in
a Ramsar site for Lake Baringo.
which herds are rotated to allow re-vegetation. This is likely
to increase the carrying capacity of the rangelands, and will
The current management initiatives in the Lake Baringo readily be accepted by the pastoralists. Lack of support,
drainage basin are mainly sectoral. Activities currently ineffective legislation, lack of transparent decision-making
receiving the most attention include fi shing, soil conservation
systems, lack of qualifi ed personnel in environmental
38 Lake
Baringo

---

management and lack of suffi ciently trained personnel are ·
High land preparation costs;
additional drawbacks affecting the institutions.
·
Limited market opportunities;
The lack of a management plan for the lake and its drainage
basin is another management constraint. Since the current ·
Lack of public awareness; and,
management initiatives are sectoral, the negative impacts
that may occur from an activity also are likely to infl uence
·
Land tenure system and cultural values.
other sectors. Such sectors may have diffi culty in formulating
solutions to problems whose origin they may not know. The
Some constraints can be minimized through environmental
construction of dams upstream for domestic water supply, educational programs. The confl icts, on the other hand, are
for example, resulted in reduced fl ows downstream and into
resolved from two possible approaches. One way is through
the lake. Consequently, the downstream population suffered
the Provincial Administration, whereby the District security
from inadequate water supplies, which they need, not only
teams from different districts organize roundtable discussions
for domestic use, but also for irrigation. Fish production also
to fi nd amicable solutions to the confl icts, or to enforce law
decreased partly because of reduced infl ows into the lake.
and order among the confl icting groups. The other approach is
Siltation of Chemeron Dam is another side effect that has through village elders from the confl icting groups. The elders
reduced the capacity of the dam and, hence, the reliability
usually can easily identify the root causes of the problem and
of the downstream water discharge to meet irrigation needs.
help fi nd solutions acceptable to the confl icting groups.
Since there is interconnection between the activities of various
sectors, however, involvement of all stakeholders is inevitable.
4.6
Capacity Building and Public Participation
This requires a management plan and a clear Government
policy, especially on lake management, which is unfortunately
Capacity-building efforts undertaken to manage the
still lacking.
lake and its drainage basin include training of farmers
to create awareness, so that they become receptive to
Other constraints to the management of Lake Baringo and its
resource management initiatives. These activities include
drainage basin include the following:
the involvement of local communities in the tree-planting
process, participation in programs such as the Kenya-Finland
·
Lack of local expertise, lack of coordination, retrenchment
Livestock Development Programme Bull Scheme, which also
of staff, especially in government institutions, and low
entails empowering women's groups in land rehabilitation.
incentives, which demoralize personnel responsible for
Other activities include on-farm demonstrations by extension
effective management of resources;
workers, village environmental committees to oversee the day-
to-day implementation of the on-farm management practices,
·
Inadequate understanding by the public and decision-
and training extension staff regarding new technologies.
makers on the effects of human activities on the lake
Strengthening institutions through facilitating support of
and its drainage basin;
micro-enterprises on income diversifi cation and educational
visits to demonstration sites are additional capacity-building
·
Lack of data and information about the problems facing
initiatives.
the lake and it drainage basin;
As part of capacity-building activities, an excursion to Lake
·
Inaccessibility to information on past studies and Bogoria resulted in passing resolutions that were to be used
research on the lake and its drainage basin;
as guidelines to ensure good management of the lake. These
were as follows:
·
Lack of understanding by many lake basin inhabitants,
especially among those who live on the hillslopes at
·
Formation of beach committees;
a considerable distance from the lake, about their
individual roles in causing lake problems;
·
Joint patrol and surveillance with the Fisheries
Department;
·
Lack of knowledge by most of the indigenous
communities of what actions to take to help solve lake
·
Supporting research to determine the rate of recovery of
problems;
the lake's fi shery;
·
Lack of feedback of information to government offi cials;
·
Participation in tree planting; and,
·
Frequent droughts and fl oods;
·
Involvement of women groups in fodder farming and
zero grazing.
·
Inadequate accessibility to safe water;
One of the experiences of stakeholder involvement is that
· Livestock
diseases;
they tend to participate in activities in which they will get

Experience and Lessons Learned Brief
39

---

direct benefi ts, or if the activities are linked to their livelihood
institutional partnerships/synergies, resource mobilization,
needs. Creation of awareness among stakeholders on the and ownership.
importance and value of the lake, and the need to conserve
it, has been made possible through training, sensitization and
The disadvantages of this approach include weak partners,
mobilization, using PRA methods. Such methods include fi eld
little budgetary harmonization, ownership of credit
days, workshops, seminars and demonstrations in which the
concerns, lack of transparency, and high expectations from
stakeholders learn through participation.
stakeholders.
4.7 Financial
Investment
The entry point of the UNEP/GEF Project was to build capacity
for managing natural resources and improving income through
Financial investments made to help solve the problems facilitation of various stakeholders. One such activity to
associated with the sustainable use of the lake and its which UNEP/GEF funds were committed is micro-enterprise,
resources include:
which was introduced to assist organized community groups
to engage in environmentally-friendly income-generating
·
Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries--US$30,000 activities, in order to relieve land use pressures and, at the
between 1998 and 1999;
same time, raise people's livelihood standards. Other activities
include environmental education and conservation programs,
·
Local Afforestation Scheme (LAS)--US$52,000 for 1.8
facilitation of stakeholder forums, and policies and facilitation
million seedlings for planting during 1999 and 2000;
of research.
·
UNICEF and various NGOs--US$107,000 in 1999-2001 to
4.9
Achievements of UNEP/GEF LBCB Project
undertake community-based water projects;
The LBCB Project facilitated eight women's groups, two self-
·
Kenya-Finland Livestock Development Programme Bull
help groups, and a community-based organization. Financial
Scheme for cow rotation--approximately US$74,000; grants totaling US$16,500 were allocated to fund micro-
and,
enterprise and conservation activities, including the purchase
of zero-grazing animals, poultry-keeping, merchandise kiosks
·
UNEP/GEF, through LBCB project--approximately and market day trading, purchase and sale of livestock, agro-
US$750,000 during 2001 to 2003 for capacity building
vet store establishment, food crop production, roof water
and rehabilitation of degraded Lake Baringo basin catchment, and soil and water conservation measures. Overall,
areas.
294 households, with a population of about 1,000 people,
were involved. The assessment results revealed that, out of the
4.8
UNEP/GEF LBCB Project
total grants released, US$10,000 (61.24%) had been utilized by
end of June 2003, with a revolving fund build-up of US$7,000
Environmental degradation was identifi ed as a major constraint
generated by four groups.
to development in the Lake Baringo basin. The increase in both
the human and animal population beyond the land carrying
The achievements brought by micro-enterprise support include
capacity, and unsuitable land use activities, in the drainage
the establishment of 70 acres of pastures, 25 acres of agro-
basin resulted in a decrease in the natural resource base forestry plots, 55 acres of food crops, and purchase of 16 dairy
that supports livelihoods and biodiversity. The environmental
animals and 200 poultry birds. Others included 2,000 goats
status of Lake Baringo has been the concern of the bought or sold, 16 roof water catchment tanks, and 60 energy-
Government of Kenya (GOK), NGOs and local communities for
saving Jikos. The benefi ts accrued from these achievements
a long time. In 2000, the GOK forwarded a proposal to UNEP to
included increased sources of income to the groups and
fund the LBCB Project, with the main objective of building the
individual members, on-farm manure sources from dairy and
capacity of the local communities and institutions to respond
poultry units, group-managed credit facilities, up to 900 man-
positively in addressing the impacts of land degradation, hours per month saved for other farm activities, technology
through demonstration of best land use practices. The project
transfer to neighbors, reduced water-borne disease incidences,
was formulated with line ministries, in consultation with the
and savings on wood fuel. Other signifi cant achievements are
local communities and other stakeholders. The entry point listed below.
to the communities was through PRA and socio-economic
surveys, with the main problems focusing on land degradation,
·
Production of baseline information on Lake Baringo
biodiversity conservation, and aquatic resources.
on land cover mapping, hydrological data, soil erosion
assessments, socio-economics assessments and
The approach adopted was to facilitate institutions to build
biodiversity inventories. The reports were produced in
their capacity for sustainable environmental management.
collaboration with consultants from local universities
The advantages of this approach include involvement of
and research institutions. The information generated
stakeholders in a participatory manner, strengthening of
has been used to formulate project activities and
disseminated to other stakeholders.
40 Lake
Baringo

---

·
Support of research institutions through procurement
policy formulation workshop, and input of signifi cant
of scientifi c equipment and means of transport. The
contributions subsequently incorporated into the draft
project procured scientifi c equipment for KMFRI worth
policy. In livestock marketing, the project contributed to
US$5,000 and a boat worth US$3,000. The project also
the National Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP),
procured a boat engine for the Fisheries Department,
through the Pastoralists thematic group. On tourism
worth US$3,000, for routine surveillance in the lake.
policy, the project presented its recommendations to
the review committee during the regional workshop
·
The facilitation of dialogue and formation of partnerships
in Eldoret. The project also is pursuing forest policy
among government, NGOs and community institutions
development.
on resource management.
·
Facilitation of the rehabilitation of degraded lands was
·
Creation of increased project awareness, which has
achieved. Relevant efforts included grass reseeding of
caused the local people to establish four community-
32 individual plots, promotion of agro-forestry practices
managed wildlife sanctuaries in Kaptuya, Kichirtit,
in seven schools, protection of ten water springs,
Rugus and Kampi ya Samaki. The Ilchamus community
promoting water harvesting techniques for dryland
is currently negotiating with the Giraffe Centre for the
farming in 20 farms, support for the establishment of
return of the Baringo Giraffe to its original habitat in
four demonstration sites for alternative livestock fodder,
Baringo. The Kenya Wildlife Service and LBCB project
and promotion and construction of 40 energy-saving
are currently assisting this community to make the
stoves.
sanctuaries operational.
·
Participatory management and conservation of
·
Facilitation of extension agents from the Department
biodiversity also was undertaken. In the process, eight
of Agriculture to assist farmers to develop soil and
locational environmental committees were established,
water conservation structures. Over 30,000 m of
and four community conservation groups registered.
terraces have been constructed to date. An encouraging
Further, 20 government offi cers were trained in short
outcome of this effort, which will act as an incentive for
courses on gender and agro-meteorology. Community
conservation, is the successful harvest these farmers
workers also were trained in participatory agricultural
got after previous years of crop failure.
extension methodologies. The project also integrated
various Locational Environmental Action Plans (LEAPS)
·
A successful lobby with the Baringo County Council to
and sectoral plans into a management structure for the
establish a management committee for the Lake Baringo
entire Lake Baringo ecosystem.
ecosystem. The committee draws its membership from
the Baringo County Council, District Administration, ·
Facilitation of capacity-building and sustainable
other government departments, community leaders
livelihood security also was achieved. Relevant
and NGOs. It is responsible for the management of the
activities included facilitation of seven groups of
lake ecosystem, and is currently working on developing
micro-enterprises, planting of 1,546 mango and 867
an integrated management plan. A major outcome of
macadamia seedlings, recruitment and training of
this initiative is the designation of Lake Baringo as
farmers, procurement and distribution of seed varieties
Kenya's fourth Ramsar site. Through this initiative,
of drought resistant pulses worth US$4,000, and training
the management committee, in consultation with the
of 60 pastoralists on livelihood risk management.
local fi shermen cooperative and other stakeholders,
unanimously agreed to a moratorium on fi shing in Lake
·
Awareness creation programs, including environmental
Baringo to allow the depleted fi sh stock to recover.
education, using video shows in 16 schools, eight
exchange visits between communities and opinion
·
Assistance to the Baringo County Council, Samburu
leaders, and several study tours and exchange visits
County Council and the District Security teams in the two
by the community to rehabilitation sites. The project
Districts to re-open the Samburu-Baringo component of
also organized one joint meeting between District
the northern tourism circuit, which had been closed
Environmental Committees from the four districts
since 1991. The project procured communication
(Nakuru, Laikipia, Koibatek and Baringo) of the Lake
equipment for monitoring the movement of tourists
Baringo drainage basin.
and their security along the route. The communities
along the circuit were also trained to generate income,
·
Funds from other organizations for community-based
through the sale of artifacts and the establishment of
projects were mobilized. These include a pledge of
cultural centers.
US$50,000 from UNDP Kenya for land adjudication in
Salabani location, and US$50,000 from Tourist Trust
·
Participation in the review of government policies in
Fund Kenya to facilitate development of tourism area
the wetlands, livestock marketing and tourism sectors.
plan for the Lake Baringo circuit. The project also
It also includes participation in the regional wetlands
negotiated for US$2,000 from the UNDP Kindelevu

Experience and Lessons Learned Brief
41

---

Project for the Marti water pan, and US$3,000 from food and income. During severe droughts, pastoralists hunt
World Vision for construction of the Lomunge water wildlife to supplement their protein supplies. Similarly, they
pan.
burn acacia and other trees to produce charcoal for sale to
compensate for livestock losses. Biodiversity conservation is
5. Lessons
Learned
acceptable to the local people if it can generate socio-economic
benefi ts higher than the subsistence utilization, a mentality
5.1 Stakeholder
Involvement
caused by a lack of awareness. It is worth noting that improved
rangeland can attract more biodiversity with more gains. For
Lake management programs should involve all relevant example, four animal species have returned to a piece of land
stakeholders and all other parties interested in the sustainable
rehabilitated for a period of 12 months. Similarly, birds have
use of a lake and its resources. This practice will not only
built nests on trees in demonstration plots set up by a local
minimize the duplication of activities, but will also ensure NGO, whereas there are no nests on trees in nearby degraded
wise and effi cient use of resources. Through the sharing of
areas. Thus, it is important to have suffi cient information on
information, knowledge will be generated and appraised. biodiversity in the lake basin, including the social dimension
The interests of the community, preferences and values also
of its conservation.
will be taken into account in the management plan, thereby
minimizing confl icts of interest. This approach also makes the
5.5

Conservation to Focus on the Means of Achieving
community more receptive to lake management efforts. Care
the End Result
should be taken to involve members of the community from all
strata in the management efforts, to ensure their interests are
Conservation projects should focus not only on producing
adequately considered.
physical end products, like the total area and species
conserved, but also on the means of achieving the end result.
5.2
Improvement of Livelihood Security
This is critical especially when multiple stakeholders are
involved. The LBCB Project applied the participatory approach
Local people will tend to support those interventions that and formation of partnerships among key stakeholders to
they perceive to favor their aspirations, especially those that
create synergy and increased sense of ownership, as a means
improve their livelihood security. For example, most farmers
of enhancing the conservation of natural resources in the
in the lake basin were not willing to construct terraces and
Lake Baringo drainage basin. While it is prudent to take an
other water conservation structures until they saw the integrated approach involving various development partners
successful harvest obtained by those who did so. Similarly,
and stakeholders, it also is important to critically examine
they do not see direct gains in natural resource conservation
some of the underlying assumptions. Most development
and management. This is exacerbated by the lack of critical
agencies share the same vision of livelihood improvement, but
mass with interest in resource conservation, communal land
have their own preconceived ideas about community approach
ownership and high poverty levels. Thus, it is important to
and implementation strategy. They also operate on different
develop environmental awareness packages with incentives,
budgets and time scales. If the operations of these partners
in order to build a conservation constituency at a grassroots
are not regulated and harmonized, it can create confusion
level.
for the local communities, and scrambling for recognition at
the expense of conservation. The UNEP/GEF Project played
5.3 Diversifi cation of Income
a pivotal role in the synchronization of activities among the
stakeholders through a participatory approach.
Income diversifi cation offers more alternatives for meeting
livelihood needs. It reduces over-dependence on one resource,
5.6

Awareness Creation, Capacity Building and
which often can lead to environmental degradation. For
Sustainable Resource Use
example, the Pokots and the Ilchamus are mainly pastoralists
and keep large herds of cattle which do not match the Creation of awareness and education of the stakeholders
carrying capacity of the grazing land. This causes problems
on various management scenarios are the major aspects
of overgrazing, with increased soil erosion and the siltation
of building capacity for implementing and addressing
of rivers and lakes. In addition to land degradation, their the principles of sustainable lake management. The local
animals die during drought periods, thereby reducing their communities who are the direct benefi ciaries, and who exploit
livestock products. Other income-generating activities (e.g., the resources to meet their livelihood demands, should be
bee keeping, micro-enterprises) are necessary because they
made aware of the risks involved in such exploitation. In the
reduce pressure on land and minimize risks.
majority of cases, they only consider the short-term benefi ts,
at the expense of the long-term ones. In addition to the
5.4
Biodiversity--A Source of Income and Food
excessive exploitation of fi sh, the forest reserves also have
been exploited not only in the hillslopes of the Lake Baringo
From the perspective of the local people, biodiversity in arid
drainage basin, but in all forest areas of Kenya. The forest
and semi-arid areas involves a pastoral risk management area of Kenya is currently less than 2%, much less than the
strategy. From their perspective, biodiversity is a source of 9% forest coverage characterizing Africa and 20% of the
42 Lake
Baringo

---

world. The Government of Kenya targets a coverage of 10%.
available in libraries as well, where they can be easily accessed.
As the Government plans to achieve this goal, education of
Field days through PRA also are an avenue for disseminating
the masses, to live in harmony with the natural resources, is
the information, particularly to the local communities.
essential.
6. References
5.7

Inclusion of the Entire Drainage Basin in the Lake
Management Plan
Aloo, P.A. 2002. "Effects of climate and human activities on the
ecosystem of Lake Baringo." In E. Odada and D. Olago (eds).
The management of the lake should not concentrate only East African Great Lakes: Limnology, Paleolimnology and
on the water body itself, but should also extend to the Biodiversity. Kluwer Academic Publishers: London.
whole basin that drains into the lake. In most cases, the
administrative boundaries do not coincide with river basin Ballot, A., S. Pfl ugmacher, C. Wiegand, K. Kotut, and L.
boundaries, as is the case for the Lake Baringo drainage Krienitz. 2003. "Cyanobacterial toxins in Lake Baringo, Kenya."
basin, which is located in four districts of Baringo, Koibatek,
Limnologica 33: 2-9.
Nakuru and Laikipia. However, the LBCB Project was designed
only for the Baringo District. This made the involvement of
Fisheries Dept. Annual reports and Personal communication.
the other districts in resource management efforts diffi cult,
even though activities in parts of these latter districts in the
Onyando, J.O. 2003. Soil erosion hazard assessment of River
catchment directly affected the management of the lake. Thus,
Perkerra Catchment. Consultancy Report submitted to UNOPS.
management programs should be designed to include the
entire drainage basin.
Onyando, J.O. 2002. Land cover resource maps of Lake Baringo
drainage basin. Consultancy Report submitted to UNOPS.
5.8
Financial Investment in Lake Basin Projects
Gichuki, F.N. 2000. Monitoring of birds in Lake Baringo and its
Financial constraints made the UNEP/GEF funded LBCB watershed. Consultancy Report submitted to UNOPS.
Project focus mainly on the Baringo District. The project was a
medium-sized project (MSP), for which the upper funding limit
Hammer, U.T. 1986. Saline ecosystems of the world: Junk
at the time was US$750,000. One lesson learned in this effort
Publishers Dordrecht, Netherlands.
is that fi nancial investments larger than that available through
the MSPs are needed for formulating effective integrated lake
KEMFRI. Annual reports and Personal communication.
basin management programs, and that time frames longer
than three years, the average duration of an MSP, are needed
Pencol Engineering Consultants. 1981. Lake Baringo
to bring about changes in management of an entire lake community-based land and water management project.
drainage basin.
Project report.
5.9

Water Conservation for Domestic and Livestock
UNOPS Marigat. Progress and consultancy reports and
Use
Personal communication.
Alternative water resources, such as rainwater harvesting Zohary, T. and R.D. Roberts. 1990. "Hyperscums and the
through roof catchment, should be explored to supplement
population of Microcystis aeruginosa." J. Plankton Res. 12:
river water for domestic use. This will reduce water 423-432.
abstractions through damming, thereby also allowing more
water to fl ow downstream and into the lake. This should be
Disclaimer
practiced not only in the semi-arid downstream area, but
also in the humid upstream area as well. This is because the
The fi ndings, interpretations and conclusions expressed
people located upstream use more water, while those located
in this report are the views of the authors and do not
downstream, as well as the lake, are most affected by water
necessarily represent the views of The World Bank and its
shortages. Thus, the upstream population should rely more on
Board of Directors, or the countries they represent, nor do
rainwater for domestic use, so that most of the river water can
they necessarily represent the view of the organizations,
fl ow downstream and into the lake.
agencies or governments to which any of the authors are
associated. Also, the colors, boundaries, denominations, and
5.10 Documentation and Extension
classifi cations in this report do not imply, on the part of The
World Bank and its Board of Directors, or the countries they
The information and data gained from lake management represent, and the organizations, agencies or governments to
programs and experiences can be disseminated to national
which any of the authors are associated, any judgment on the
and local governments, lake management practitioners, non-
legal or other status of any territory, or any endorsement or
governmental organizations and other stakeholders through
acceptance of any boundary.
reports, seminars, workshops and the Internet. All should be

Experience and Lessons Learned Brief
43

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