When Roberto Macri established his luxury hotel in Kipini, a coastal village in Kenya, it was positioned just 100 meters from the stunning Indian Ocean. For nearly twenty years, Tana Lodge Hotel flourished, attracting countless tourists eager to experience its pristine beaches and sun-soaked environment.
However, a shift began in 2014 as rising sea levels started to threaten the hotel’s premises. Within five years, the hotel’s nine guest cottages faced destruction, a loss that culminated in 2019 when the last remaining structure was overtaken by the ocean. Macri recounted the tragic transformation, stating, “The ocean changed steadily, slowly encroaching our hotel.”
Today, residents of Kipini, situated at the Tana River’s mouth, find themselves in a similar predicament. This coastal community, known for its idyllic atmosphere, is slowly vanishing under the relentless advance of seawater. Community leader Saida Idris expressed her concerns, noting, “The ocean advances every day and our houses are becoming weaker. We are afraid and distressed but feel powerless to stop it.” Numerous locals have suffered losses; lives have been claimed due to the surging tides.
One major contributor to this crisis is the depleting mangrove forests that once served as a crucial barrier against coastal erosion. Mangroves are vital for stabilizing the shoreline and preventing saltwater from infiltrating farmland, but their destruction, combined with climate change, has exacerbated the situation.
George Odera, a scientist with a wildlife conservancy organization, highlighted the area’s vulnerability to strong winds and aggressive ocean waves, increasing the threat to Kipini’s residents. In the last decade, almost 10 kilometers of previously dry land have vanished beneath the encroaching sea, with local administrator Omar Halki declaring, “It’s just a matter of time before the entire region goes underwater.”
With a population of around 4,000, residents are struggling to adapt to the escalating crisis as their freshwater wells have turned saline. Furthermore, the rise in salinity has severely impacted local agriculture, with marine life such as crabs and prawns, previously abundant, now dwindling due to the loss of their breeding habitats.
The rising waters are also altering traditional burial practices, with residents encountering difficulties digging graves deep enough to avoid water. Kipini, located in Tana River County, faces a multi-faceted climate emergency, characterized by severe droughts and flooding.
Local authorities have proposed constructing a seawall along the county’s coastline to mitigate further ocean encroachment. Despite recognizing the urgency of the situation, efforts to initiate the project are stalled due to funding shortages. Nonetheless, support from international organizations has been expressed for this endeavor.
Experts warn that merely erecting a seawall is insufficient, stating that a comprehensive approach is necessary. This includes restoring mangrove ecosystems to enhance the community’s resilience against climate-induced threats. As Odera emphasized, merely building barriers will not halt the sea’s advance; communities must be equipped to adapt to these environmental shifts.
Kipini’s residents now feel like transient visitors in their homes, walking to the shore daily to gauge how much further the ocean has intruded. Local forecasts suggest that if assistance does not arrive soon, Kipini may be entirely submerged in just three years.
Macri’s experience embodies the loss felt by many; after relocating to Malindi, he reminisced about his former investment, which had promised both beauty and economic benefit. Today, much of his former hotel lies underwater, and all that remains is a solitary structure, a stark reminder of the area’s fragile beauty and precarious future.
