NAIROBI, March 21 (Xinhua) -- As the rainy season sets in, Jared Ouma, a boat maker from Mulukhoba in western Kenya's Busia County, grows increasingly worried. Ouma, who runs his small business along the shores of Lake Victoria, knows all too well the devastating force of the downpours.
"The rains could displace us," he told Xinhua in a recent interview. "For the past three years, once it rains, the lake swells, displacing those of us who work along the shores."
Ouma sells each boat he crafts at an average of 100,000 Kenyan shillings (about 773 U.S. dollars), which is a major source of income for his entire family.
Like Ouma, hundreds of members of the fishing community in Kenya also bear the same burden of climate change. Frequent rainfall has left a trail of destruction across the country, not only displacing hundreds but also leaving economic activities in turmoil.
From Lake Baringo and Lake Nakuru in the Rift Valley to Kenya's Indian Ocean coastline, the impacts of climate change, including higher temperatures and flooding, have led to rising water levels and displacements.
At Mulukhoba, four buildings that once stood near the water body and served their purpose for years are now submerged.
Joachim Omollo, chairperson of Mulukhoba Beach Management Unit (BMU), a community-based organization serving stakeholders in the fisheries sector, said the buildings originally housed a fish landing site and administration offices.
In response, the government has constructed new facilities at a higher ground.
Omollo said heavy rains hinder fishermen from venturing into the lake for fishing. Members of the BMU, therefore, lose their business.
It's no secret that climate change has also affected business at the neighboring Marenga Beach. Several buildings remain submerged in what was once a thriving fish trading hub. A petrol station that primarily served motorboat owners has shut the door amid declining fishing activities.
"Most fish sold here now comes from Uganda. There is little fish on the Kenyan side of Lake Victoria due to polluted water that comes into the lake when it rains," said Bernard Mafuta, a fish trader.
To save fisherfolk from losses caused by climate change, Vincent Olaka, a fisheries officer at the Busia County Government, said they collaborate with BMUs and local communities to curb the pollution.
"We are also promoting sustainable fishing practices, including the use of eco-friendly gear that doesn't destroy marine ecosystems and a ban on harvesting juvenile fish. We also conduct awareness campaigns to highlight the impact of climate change on fisheries," he said.
Through BMUs, Olaka said the fisherfolk have been able to access loans to start pond farming, which provides them with a buffer against the effects of climate change.
A local radio station that broadcasts weather information, as part of the region's early warning systems, has become crucial in warning fishermen of extreme weather, storms or dangerous tides, therefore protecting them from potential danger.
David Gikungu, director of the Kenya Meteorological Department, said in early March that the East African country would experience heavy rains from March to May, resulting in flooding in some areas. During this period, the country would also experience warmer temperatures.
The nation's lake water levels are predicted to rise due to the intense rains and rising temperatures, further jeopardizing fishermen's livelihoods.
Gikungu noted that climate-induced adverse weather events have resulted in socioeconomic impacts such as food insecurity, health risks, displacement of communities, economic disruptions, and damage to infrastructure. ■
