Humanitarian Crisis in Kihoto

A severe humanitarian crisis is escalating in Kihoto village, Naivasha, after the swelling waters of Lake Naivasha submerged hundreds of homes, displacing thousands of residents and devastating livelihoods. Speaking in the Kenyan Senate on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 (EAT), Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja demanded immediate government action to address the catastrophe. She highlighted that entire households have been forced to abandon their properties, facing significant health risks from contaminated water and exposure to the elements.

The number of affected residents varies according to different official sources. On November 7, 2025, Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika stated that over 4,000 residents had been affected, with more than 2,000 successfully evacuated. However, Joyce Cheche, the county's head of disaster risk management, estimated on November 19, 2025, that as many as 7,000 people have been displaced by the floods, which have inundated an area up to 1.5 kilometres inland. The flooding has destroyed not only homes but also critical infrastructure such as schools, churches, and police stations.

Questions Over Disaster Fund Allocation

In her address to the Senate, Senator Karanja questioned the effectiveness of the Nakuru County government's response, specifically pointing to the existence of a substantial emergency fund. According to reports from November 16, 2025, the senator claimed that the county has allocated over KSh 2 billion for disaster management in the last three financial years, including KSh 885 million for the 2024/2025 fiscal year. She expressed grave concern that these funds have not been effectively utilized to provide necessary humanitarian assistance to the displaced families in Kihoto. This has led to calls for a formal investigation into the management of the disaster kitty.

In response, Governor Kihika's office announced on November 7, 2025, the formation of a multi-agency committee to coordinate emergency operations, including evacuations and the distribution of food and shelter. The county government has deployed trucks and boats to assist with relocations. Despite these efforts, many families remain trapped in submerged homes, unable to afford relocation, and face daily threats from overflowing latrines and encounters with hippos venturing into the flooded residential areas.

A Recurring Environmental Problem with National Implications

The flooding of Lake Naivasha is not an isolated incident but part of a larger, recurring environmental issue affecting Kenya's Rift Valley lakes. Scientific reports and environmental experts attribute the rising water levels to a combination of factors, including climate change leading to increased and more intense rainfall, siltation from deforestation and poor land use practices in the lake's catchment area, and geological factors related to tectonic movements in the Rift Valley. A 2022 Parliamentary Report had previously recommended declaring the Kihoto region a disaster zone and compensating affected residents, but these recommendations have yet to be implemented.

The crisis has significant economic implications for Kenya. Naivasha is a critical hub for the country's multi-billion shilling floriculture industry, a major source of foreign exchange. Reports indicate that the floods have submerged greenhouses and damaged infrastructure, leading to job losses for many flower farm workers who reside in Kihoto. The tourism sector, another economic pillar for the region, has also been hit hard, with several lakeside hotels and lodges partially submerged, forcing closures and threatening livelihoods.

Frustrated by what they term as years of government inaction, residents of Kihoto filed a constitutional petition at the Environment and Land Court in Naivasha on November 4, 2025. They are suing the national and county governments for violating their rights to housing, property, and a safe environment, demanding a permanent solution to the cyclical disaster.