Written By Lisa Murimi
Kipini, a picturesque village on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast, is witnessing a heartbreaking transformation as rising sea levels threaten its very existence.
Once home to the luxurious Tana Lodge Hotel, which boasted stunning ocean views and attracted international tourists, Kipini is now grappling with relentless coastal erosion.
The Tana Lodge Hotel, constructed on sand dunes a mere 100 meters from the shoreline, flourished for nearly two decades. However, by 2014, rising sea levels began to encroach upon the property.
Within five years, all nine guest cottages were consumed by the ocean, culminating in the hotel’s closure in 2019.
Roberto Macri, the Italian businessman behind the venture, described his loss to the BBC, lamenting the fate of what was once a thriving retreat.
The situation has grown dire for Kipini’s 4,000 residents. Rising tides, coupled with deforestation of protective mangrove forests, have led to the flooding of homes and destruction of vital infrastructure.
Saida Idris, a local leader, reported that rising seas have caused fatalities and displaced many.
Efforts to mitigate the impact, such as constructing a protective seawall, are stalled due to funding shortages.
Local authorities, supported by international bodies, acknowledge the need for conservation and adaptive strategies to address this growing crisis.
