Reports on Empower 40 BMUs, Restore Lake Turkana Ecosystem

Project Report | Apr 9, 2026
Project Quarterly Report

By Christopher Ekuwom | Project Leader

The project had planned to provide 2,000 government-approved fishing nets and train 40 Beach Management Units (BMUs) in key areas:

Financial management to improve literacy and strengthen livelihoods
Fish processing skills to build local expertise and add value to catches
Marketing skills to access local, regional, and national markets for better prices
Environmental conservation techniques to protect lake biodiversity for future generations
Fisheries legislation awareness to ensure compliance and sustainable practices

In addition, the project aimed to:

Install 5 deep freezers for BMUs to reduce post-harvest losses
Construct 3 BMU stores and offices for better operations
Procure 4 rescue boats to prevent loss of lives in deep waters

Unfortunately, funding constraints continue to delay the implementation of these vital activities.

Save The Pastoralists Kenya (STP) appeals to well-wishers and potential donors to support this initiative. With your help, we can empower fisherfolk communities, strengthen BMUs, and secure a sustainable future for generations to come.

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Dec 15, 2025
Project Quarterly Report

By Christopher Ekuwom | Project Leader

Lake Turkana is currently facing a deepening environmental and humanitarian crisis caused by backflowing waters that have submerged fisherfolk homes and community infrastructure along the shoreline. Fishing activities have become increasingly unsafe and unproductive as landing sites are flooded and access to fishing grounds has shifted. Many fisherfolk households have been forced to migrate to higher and safer areas far from the lake, increasing poverty, food insecurity, and social disruption. These challenges continue to intensify with limited local capacity to respond effectively.

The Empower 40 BMUs, Restore Lake Turkana Ecosystem Initiative was designed to address these challenges through the strengthening of forty Beach Management Units to lead fisheries management, ecosystem restoration, and community resilience efforts. BMUs are well positioned to coordinate local action, protect critical habitats, and support displaced fishing communities. However, the scale of the crisis requires sustained technical and financial resources. Without these resources, the initiative cannot be implemented as planned.

Save The Pastoralists Kenya (STP) has the technical understanding, community trust, and local presence needed to coordinate this initiative. However, STP currently lacks sufficient funding to support BMU training, ecosystem restoration activities, safety interventions, and livelihood support. The absence of adequate funding has halted the rollout of planned activities despite urgent community needs.

As a result, STP is unable to implement the Empower 40 BMUs, Restore Lake Turkana Ecosystem Initiative at this time. Critical interventions such as shoreline restoration, safe landing site development, and BMU capacity building remain unfunded. Without immediate financial support and strategic partnerships, fisherfolk communities will continue to face displacement, declining livelihoods, and worsening environmental degradation.

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