In Naivasha, a lakeside town northwest of Nairobi, families in the Kihoto settlement are living in fear. Lake Naivasha has spilled into their homes, forcing hippos into the flooded streets and raising the risk of deadly disease.
More than 15,000 people have been affected since the water levels began rising months ago, according to local officials. The floods have submerged houses, blocked sewers, and left children walking through hippo territory to get to school.
“People are living with constant fear,” said Alex Mbugua, the area’s Member of County Assembly. “Wild animals roam freely and waterborne diseases are a real threat. The government must act before lives are lost.”
Mbugua said at least 3,000 households remain trapped. Many, he noted, cannot afford to leave, despite the dangers. He called for the state to compensate residents holding valid title deeds and seal off the settlement, which has flooded almost every year.
For families still in Kihoto, daily life has become a struggle for survival.
“We face hippos every day. They come right into the flooded homes,” said Josiah Okumu, a father of three. “The children are the most exposed. At the same time, toilets are underwater, and the sewer system has collapsed. Cholera could break out any moment.”
Others worry about livelihoods slipping away with the floodwaters.
“Businesses that supported families here have been destroyed,” said Rose Adayo, who ran a small shop before the floods. “Most of us cannot even feed our children, let alone raise money to move to safer areas.”
Her neighbour, Nancy Atieno, said the crisis has pushed families to breaking point. “We are exposed to everything—disease, hunger, hippos. We need urgent help,” she said.
Environmental experts warn that climate change, poor land use planning, and blocked water channels have contributed to Lake Naivasha’s unpredictable swelling in recent years. The government has yet to announce a permanent solution.
For now, residents wade through waist-deep water, hoping for relief. Each night, they listen for the sounds of hippos outside their doors, waiting for help that has yet to come.
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