Heavy rains in Kenya have caused the waters of Lake Naivasha to flood nearby homes, leading to the displacement of over 7,000 people. Locals in the modest district of Kihoto are astonished by the unprecedented scale of flooding this year, with the lake reaching up to 1.5 kilometers inland.

Residents like Rose Alero report that many neighbors are sick, as water in their homes rises to waist-deep levels, and toilets overflow across the district. With hundreds of homes completely submerged, children have had to leave school on makeshift rafts.

Joyce Cheche, who heads disaster risk management for Nakuru County, noted that while the county is assisting with transportation and implementing health measures, there has been no financial compensation for those affected. Workers in the flower sector, a major industry in the area, have been reluctant to show up due to fears of cholera and landslides.

The flooding has also resulted in dangerous encounters with hippos swimming in the lake’s expanding waters. The phenomenon is attributed primarily to increased rainfall linked to climate change, though some experts suggest tectonic shifts are also contributing to the flooding.

As the waters continue to rise at approximately one meter per day, residents express deep concerns over the future, fearing further rain could exacerbate the already dire situation.