“There is No Time Left”: climate change, environmental threats, and human rights in Turkana County, Kenya

This report is based on research in Turkana County in northwestern Kenya bordering South Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda. Today, Turkana County is home to a rapidly growing population that is among the poorest in Kenya.

Human Rights Watch conducted research in Turkana County between April 2014 and February 2015, interviewing 40 people, including pastoralists, fishers, health clinic staff, students, teachers, local civil society activists, and police officers. In addition, Human Rights Watch reviewed international, Kenyan and Turkana County laws, policies and development plans, including the Turkana County Development Plan and the Kenya National Climate Change Action Plan and met with Turkana County and Kenyan national government officials.

The report finds that climate change, in combination with existing political, environmental and economic development challenges in Turkana, has had an impact on the Turkana people’s ability to access food, water, health and security. Turkana County has long experienced periods of cyclical drought. However, increasing temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns, combined with population growth and threats to Lake Turkana from hydroelectric and irrigation projects in Ethiopia, present significant, long-term challenges for the Turkana County and Kenyan national governments.