"Exploring displacement from river backflows among the local Luo community in the Lake Victoria region, Kenya". In Handbook on Climate Mobility.

Abstract

The Lake Victoria region in Kenya frequently experiences flooding and river backflow, leading to infrastructure damage, social and economic disruption, and displacement of the local Luo community. This study investigates the sociocultural drivers of forced migration and assesses the effectiveness of structural measures, like dykes, alongside non-structural approaches in reducing flood-related displacement. An exploratory methodology, combined with an extensive review of scientific and gray literature, was utilized to gain insights into the application of these approaches for effective flood risk management. Despite the political, cultural, social, and population pressures in the Nyando Basin, the findings indicate that local communities place significant trust in structural measures to reduce flood-induced displacement. However, to ensure their effectiveness, these structures must be designed with greater consideration for indigenous and local knowledge and practices, the water volume and sediment loads of the rivers, and the impacts of a changing climate. Such enhancements are critical to providing adequate and sustainable protection for communities vulnerable to Nyando River backflow and flooding.