After a long journey north along the Kitale–Lodwar highway, Kenya’s landscape slowly begins to change.
The lush green highlands and deep, treacherous gorges fade into arid plains, the road becomes increasingly silent and deserted, as the horizon stretches endlessly under the Turkana sun.
A diversion northeast of Lodwar leads to Kalokol, a small but lively fishing town on the western shores of Lake Turkana in Turkana County.
Often called the “Jade Sea” because of its striking blue-green color, Lake Turkana is the world’s largest permanent desert lake and one of Kenya’s most extraordinary landscapes.
Located in the remote northern Kenyan Rift Valley, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring active volcanoes, rich fossil deposits (“Cradle of Mankind”), and the largest population of Nile crocodiles.
The Busy Kalokol Fish Landing Site
But beyond its dramatic beauty, the lake is also a lifeline.
At the Kalokol fish landing site, the rhythm of daily life revolves around the lake.
Wooden boats drift back to shore loaded with fresh catch, fishermen untangle their nets under the hot morning sun, and traders gather quickly to buy fish before it is transported to markets across Kenya.
The packaged fish travels far and wide, reaching major towns to the south, such as Kitale and Kisumu.
While Kisumu sits on the shores of the iconic Lake Victoria (Nam Lolwe), residents often source different fish species from Lake Turkana that are not native to Lake Victoria.
Kalokol is therefore a hub of constant activity, with fish drying racks, makeshift processing stations, and fish-frying spots sprawling all along the shore.
Some boats arrive after night fishing expeditions, their crews tired but satisfied.
Others are preparing to head back out, checking nets and engines before venturing once more into the vast waters of the Jade Sea.
Fishing here is not just an occupation; it is the backbone of the local economy.
In Kalokol, entire families depend on the lake.
Fishermen bring in the catch, traders sort and sell the fish, and transporters move the produce to nearby towns like Lodwar and beyond.
Yet amid the bustling fishing activity, residents express concern about a significant change occurring on Lake Turkana.
Boat operators in Kalokol explained that the lake’s waters have been steadily rising in recent years, a trend many widely associate with changing climate patterns.
According to them, the expanding shoreline is slowly pushing past its traditional boundaries, covering areas that were once dry land.
Some nearby villages now sit precariously close to the water’s edge, and locals fear they could be submerged within a few years if the trend continues.
Even some of the lake’s islands are gradually being swallowed by the rising waters, forcing communities that once lived there to relocate.
Life along Lake Turkana is not easy. The environment is harsh, the distances are long, and the climate is unforgiving.
Every boat that returns to shore tells a story of persistence, of communities adapting to one of Kenya’s most remote and challenging regions.
Standing at the landing site and watching the boats come in, it becomes clear that Lake Turkana is more than just a geographic wonder.
It is a living, working lake that sustains thousands of livelihoods along its shores.
