Empower 40 BMUs, Restore Lake Turkana Ecosystem

Lake Turkana, the world’s largest desert lake, is facing complex challenges that threaten both its resources and the institutions responsible for managing them. The Beach Management Units (BMUs), which play a central role in fisheries governance, are constrained by a lack of investment, weak regulatory enforcement, inadequate training, poorly serviced or unavailable equipment, and unprepared leadership. These institutional weaknesses are compounded by broader pressures on the lake itself, including climate change, disease outbreaks, overgrazing, overfishing, deforestation, community disputes, upstream damming of the Omo River, and a significant loss of biodiversity.

To respond to these challenges, the project proposes to strengthen 40 BMUs around Lake Turkana by equipping them with 2,000 approved nets and providing targeted training to enhance leadership and management capacity. In addition, five deep freezers will be installed to reduce post-harvest losses, three stores will be constructed to improve fish handling and storage, and four rescue boats will be procured to enhance safety on the lake. These interventions are designed to build institutional resilience, improve resource management, and safeguard the livelihoods of communities that depend on Lake Turkana.

However, the project has not yet been funded, and the proposed activities cannot be implemented without external support. Save The Pastoralists Kenya (STP) is therefore appealing to donors and well-wishers to provide the necessary funding to make these interventions possible. With timely support, the project will help secure Lake Turkana’s resources, strengthen BMU institutions, and protect the future of the communities that rely on the lake for survival.