Kenya
Kenya 2025 Senate By-elections
Floods
Flooding in Kenya has driven the waters of Lakes Baringo and Bogoria to unprecedent levels, pushing them dangerously close to merging and threatening an enormous ecological disaster. Lake Bogoria is a saline lake that provides a unique habitat for endemic species, while Lake Baringo is a freshwater lake that supports fisheries, wildlife, and surrounding communities. In addition to the potential for ecological from a merging of the respective lakes hydrological profile, rising water levels threatened to inundate entire villages, public institutions and key infrastructure (TV47 Kenya 2025).
Impact on the electoral process
In total, eight polling stations (out of 1029) were submerged a few days ahead of the Senate by-elections in Baringo on 27 November 2025 (IEBC 2025). Crocodiles and hippos were reported in the vicinity of the flooded schools that have typically been used for polling stations (Letoo 2025). Alternative voting venues were identified by the Independent Election and Boundary Commission (IEBC) ahead of election day (NTV Kenya 2025).
Bibliography
TV47 Kenya, ‘Lakes Baringo & Bogoria continue to rise bringing the two water bodies dangerously close to merging’, 23 November 2025, https://youtu.be/lgprd4Pyhdg?si=VoaCqmMc-JioiiMm, accessed 4 December 2025.
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), ‘Final Update on Preparedness for the 27th November 2025 By-Elections’, 26 November 2025, https://www.iebc.or.ke/uploads/resources/ypxEaLor6c.pdf, accessed 4 December 2025.
Letoo, S., ‘Floods submerge 8 polling stations in Baringo ahead of Thursday’s by-election’, Citizen Digital, 25 November 2025, https://www.citizen.digital/article/floods-submerge-8-polling-stations-in-baringo-ahead-of-thursdays-by-election-n373592, accessed 4 December 2025.
NTV Kenya, ‘IEBC officials: We’re ready to deliver credible by-elections’, 26 November 2025, https://ntvkenya.co.ke/news/iebc-officials-were-ready-to-deliver-credible-by-elections/, accessed 4 December 2025.
Floods
