Publications
High resolution multi-proxy analyses document Mid to Late-Holocene environmental change in arid Marsabit County, northern Kenya, East Africa
A detailed reconstruction of Mid to Late-Holocene environmental changes in arid Marsabit County, northern Kenya, reveals a transition from variable freshwater and saline lake conditions to more consistent shallow wetlands. High-resolution multi-proxy analyses, including pollen, plant macrofossils, diatoms, and chemical data, document fluctuating water conductivity (200–>20,000 μS cm⁻¹) and pH (7.5–11.5), indicating intermittent desiccation and ecological shifts. The study highlights a broad trend toward aridity after ~4650 BP, punctuated by brief wetter periods, with fire activity peaking around 3100 years ago before declining. These findings provide critical insights into the environmental context of early pastoralism in East Africa's lowlands adjacent to Lake Turkana.
Holocene vegetation dynamics of the Koobi Fora Basin, East Turkana, Kenya: Insights from phytolith analysis
A progressive shift from wooded grasslands to open shrublands over the Holocene in the Koobi Fora Basin, East Turkana, reflects increasing aridity and likely anthropogenic influence. Phytolith analysis of 23 sediment samples—twenty from the Holocene Galana Boi Formation and three modern—reveals subtle but significant vegetation changes: early Holocene wooded grasslands gave way to open wooded grasslands by the mid-Holocene, culminating in today's sparsely vegetated shrublands. Intra-site variations at Karari Ridge suggest localized human modification, with elevated palm phytoliths indicating resource use. These ecological shifts align with basin-wide paleoclimate data and coincide with socio-economic transitions from hunter-gatherer-fisher lifestyles to early pastoralism (∼5000 years ago), which adapted to arid conditions by integrating livestock with wild food resources. The study underscores the resilience of pastoralist systems in response to environmental pressures, though it calls for expanded sampling and multiproxy approaches to deepen understanding of human-environment interactions.
A New Large Primate for Kenya: Hamadryas Baboon Papio hamadryas (Primates: Cercopithecidae)
Researchers have documented the first occurrence of the hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas) in Kenya, extending its known range into East Africa. Between February 2023 and April 2025, surveys across northern Kenya identified at least four groups of this primate in Malka Mari National Park, approximately 75 km southeast of the previously documented range in southern Ethiopia. This discovery significantly expands the geographic distribution of P. hamadryas, which was hitherto unknown in Kenya. The findings also highlight a complex primate community in the region, with three Papio species and four taxa now recorded in Kenya. The study suggests that the baboon's range may extend further northward into Ethiopia and westward beyond Malka Mari National Park, contributing new insights to the biodiversity of Lake Turkana National Parks.
Early Oldowan technology thrived during Pliocene environmental change in the Turkana Basin, Kenya
A newly discovered archaeological site, Namorotukunan, within the Lake Turkana National Parks, reveals that early Oldowan technology thrived during significant Pliocene environmental changes approximately 2.75 million years ago. This site provides the earliest evidence of Oldowan tool-making in the Koobi Fora Formation and spans a remarkable 300,000-year period, offering unprecedented insights into technological stability and hominin behavioral adaptations amid increasing aridity and environmental variability. Researchers employed multiple paleoenvironmental proxies to reconstruct past ecological conditions, combining geological descriptions with chronological data for robust age control. The study underscores the interplay between environmental shifts and technological innovations, contributing crucial evidence to understanding pivotal factors in human evolution.
Risk allocation and contract models in renewable energy PPPs: A comparative study
A structured risk allocation framework for renewable energy Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) enhances project bankability, reduces disputes, and improves resilience. This study compares PPP contract models—BOT, BOOT, DBFO, and FIDIC-based EPC—in India, Australia, and Africa, including Kenya’s Lake Turkana Wind Project. It identifies that assigning risks to the party best able to manage them, supported by donor backing, sovereign guarantees, and transparent procurement, mitigates challenges like land acquisition, regulatory volatility, and technology failure. The framework integrates global best practices, advancing sustainable energy transitions and providing actionable guidance for policymakers and investors.
Basaltic Pulses and Lithospheric Thinning—Plio‐Pleistocene Magmatism and Rifting in the Turkana Depression (East African Rift System)
Research on the Turkana Depression within the East African Rift System reveals that pulsed basaltic magmatism, characterized by distinct eruptive events followed by periods of quiescence, is linked to variations in lithospheric thinning rather than changes in the upper mantle's thermo-chemical state. The study demonstrates that while elevated mantle potential temperature alone may not trigger melt generation, an increase in the rate of plate thinning can produce significant magma volumes, such as those observed in the Pliocene Gombe Stratoid Series. Using geodetically measured rates of plate thinning and solving the 1D advection-diffusion equation, the authors show that these basaltic pulses may precede the localization of tectonic-magmatic activity in the rift, suggesting a potential mechanism for the onset of strain localization.
ICDP workshop on the Deep Drilling in the Turkana Basin project: exploring the link between environmental factors and hominin evolution over the past 4 Myr
A two-phase drilling project in the Turkana Basin aims to revolutionize understanding of hominin evolution by linking environmental factors with tectonic and climatic changes over the past 4 million years. The Deep Drilling in the Turkana Basin (DDTB) project, supported by ICDP, proposes a land-based transect of four cores spanning from 4 Ma to the Middle–Late Pleistocene, followed by a lake-based core targeting the interval from ~1 Ma to present. This approach will provide unprecedented sedimentary records, addressing key questions about the role of climate change in hominin evolution and offering insights for future anthropogenic climate planning. The workshop concluded that such drilling would enhance our knowledge of Homo sapiens' evolution and migration during an inaccessible time period.
Situational Analysis of Groundwater Resources in Kenyan Drylands, Case study of Turkana County
Groundwater resources in Turkana County, Kenya, are predominantly shallow and saline, with high fluoride levels linked to volcanic deposits. A situational analysis found that boreholes near Lake Turkana were shallower (0-52m) compared to those farther inland (20-200m), often yielding low volumes (1.2-4.6 m³/hr) due to poor aquifer conditions in basement rocks. Groundwater quality was generally saline, with high total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), and chloride levels, but nitrate and nitrite levels were below safety standards, indicating minimal anthropogenic contamination. The study used a combination of hydrogeological surveys, water quality analysis, and spatial data to assess groundwater distribution, depth, yield, and chemical composition, providing critical baseline data for water resource planning in arid regions.
Stable oxygen isotopes of crocodilian tooth enamel allow tracking Plio-Pleistocene evolution of freshwater environments and climate in the Shungura Formation (Turkana Depression, Ethiopia)
A marked increase in oxygen isotope values (δ18Ow) between 2.97 and approximately 1.14 million years ago in the Shungura Formation suggests a shift from wetter to more arid conditions, likely due to changes in monsoon patterns and reduced rainfall over the Ethiopian Highlands. Unlike terrestrial proxies, stable oxygen isotopes (δ18Op) from crocodilian tooth enamel indicate stability in freshwater environments between 2.97 and 2.57 million years ago, followed by a restriction in aquatic diversity after approximately 2.32 million years, reflecting more arid conditions in the Turkana Depression. This study pioneers the use of crocodilian teeth as a paleoenvironmental archive, leveraging their resistance to diagenesis and sensitivity to water body isotopic composition, offering new insights into Plio-Pleistocene climate evolution.
Does renewable energy affect violent conflict? Exploring social opposition and injustice in the struggle over the Lake Turkana Wind Farm, Kenya
Renewable energy projects, while promising for sustainable development, can inadvertently fuel violent conflict. A study analyzing the Lake Turkana Wind Farm (LTWF) in Kenya reveals that such projects often trigger social opposition and injustice, which are poorly addressed by project developers. Using a conflict sensitivity framework, the research examines how changes in energy systems—driven by donor aid and foreign investment—alter conflict dynamics. It identifies discrepancies between the project developer's minimal assessment of conflict impact and independent analyses, highlighting broader socio-economic consequences. The study underscores the need for a more comprehensive approach to conflict sensitivity across renewable energy systems, extending beyond inequalities in outcomes.
Just sustainabilities: lessons from the Lake Turkana Wind Power project in Kenya
Africa's largest wind power plant, the Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) project in Kenya, serves as a case study revealing that mainstream development theories are insufficient for analyzing transitions to renewable energy. The research, employing critical discourse analysis within a political-economic framework on just sustainabilities, demonstrates that the LTWP project operates within dominant capitalist structures, prioritizing market forces and capital accumulation while neglecting local inclusion concerns in Northern Kenya. This challenges the narrative of renewable energy projects as inherently beneficial, highlighting the need for alternative, radical theories centered on concepts like 'just land' to address socio-ecological crises effectively.
The Shrinking and Expanding Eastern Africa Rift Valley Lakes: The Case of Ethiopian and Kenyan Rift Valley Lakes: Review
Lakes in the Ethiopian and Kenyan Rift Valley exhibit contrasting morphological changes, with Ethiopian lakes shrinking or expanding while Kenyan lakes predominantly expand. A review of 226 critically assessed documents revealed that endorheic lakes experience significant fluctuations due to anthropogenic pressures, such as deforestation, while water quality impacts remain understudied. Surprisingly, the predicted 12-meter drop in Lake Turkana did not occur despite upstream projects in the Omo catchment. This review provides critical insights into spatio-temporal water level trends and their drivers, offering valuable data for academics and policymakers to safeguard lake ecosystems through informed resource planning.
Need for harmonized long-term multi-lake monitoring of African Great Lakes
Harmonized long-term multi-lake monitoring is essential for understanding and sustaining African Great Lakes (AGL), including Lake Turkana, due to their shared limnological cycles despite unique characteristics. Climate variability and anthropogenic pressures significantly impact these lakes, but inconsistent or short-term monitoring hinders comprehensive data collection. The study proposes a unified approach requiring political support, community collaboration, and sufficient resources to address key drivers like climate change and regional human activities. Key parameters for monitoring are outlined, emphasizing the need for cross-border cooperation among national and regional authorities.
Stable isotope analysis of carnivores from the Turkana Basin, Kenya: Evidence for temporally-mixed fossil assemblages
A new stable isotope analysis of modern and fossil carnivores from the Turkana Basin, Kenya, reveals that fossil assemblages are temporally mixed, reflecting two distinct climatic regimes. The study found that carbon isotopes in carnivore enamel correlate with woody cover, while oxygen isotopes reflect meteoric water sources influenced by rainfall patterns over the Ethiopian Highlands. Fossil data indicates a shift from freshwater to hyperalkaline conditions in Lake Turkana, suggesting precession-driven rainfall extremes. This challenges traditional interpretations of environmental signals and community palaeoecology in the region, including those related to early hominins.
The Jarigole mortuary tradition reconsidered
New evidence from the Jarigole site challenges the long-held assumption that all megalithic pillar sites around Lake Turkana, Kenya, represent a unified 'Jarigole mortuary tradition.' Contrary to earlier beliefs, these sites were not merely secondary burial grounds but featured planned mortuary cavities for predominantly primary burials. This discovery sheds light on the social practices and funerary traditions of eastern Africa's earliest pastoralists during a period marked by significant climate change and the spread of pastoralism. The study combines archaeological excavations with detailed analysis to provide a more nuanced understanding of these monumental cemeteries, which date back approximately 5000 years.
The Practice of Protecting World Natural Heritage Sites in Africa
African nations face significant challenges in protecting UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including insufficient funding and limited human resources for effective management. The study highlights the legal obligations of the World Heritage Committee and examines its approaches to projects like hydroelectric power plants that impact ecosystems, such as Lake Turkana. It identifies a critical need for an international regulatory framework to balance development with environmental preservation. This research offers valuable insights applicable to other regions, including Russia's Lake Baikal, by analyzing African experiences and proposing new strategies for environmental policy.
Chasing the water: the political economy of water management and catchment development in the Karamoja-Turkana Complex (KTC), Uganda
Water management in the Karamoja-Turkana Complex (KTC), Uganda, reveals a delicate balance between ecological sustainability and socio-political dynamics. This study highlights how water resource allocation in the region, situated at the convergence of the Nile and Turkana basins, is deeply intertwined with historical conflicts and agropastoralist practices. Researchers employed a political economy approach to analyze water governance, exposing challenges such as unequal access, environmental degradation, and the need for inclusive development strategies. The findings underscore the urgency of integrating ecological and social factors into water management policies to foster resilience in this conflict-prone area.
Divining the Future: Making Sense of Ecological Uncertainty in Turkana, Northern Kenya
A long-standing capacity for managing ecological uncertainty underpins the Turkana people's ability to adapt to rapid economic and environmental changes. This study reveals that their livelihood transformations—shifts in practices, interdependencies, and mobility patterns—are not responses to instability but rather manifestations of a deep-rooted resilience. Through long-term ethnographic fieldwork, researchers analyzed how diverse forms of knowledge have been integrated over time to navigate variability, offering insights into sustainable adaptation strategies for regions facing radical ecological shifts.
Orbital Influence on Precipitation, Fire, and Grass Community Composition From 1.87 to 1.38 Ma in the Turkana Basin, Kenya
A 216-meter drill core from the Turkana Basin reveals that orbital forcing significantly influenced precipitation, fire activity, and grass community composition between 1.87 to 1.38 million years ago (Ma). Microcharcoal analysis showed that fire variability correlated with precessional cycles (~21 kyr), linking elevated precipitation to increased landscape fires. Phytolith data indicated alternating dominance of mesic and xeric C4 grasses, also influenced by orbital forcing but mediated by basin geometry. Two high eccentricity intervals at ~1.72 Ma and ~1.50 Ma marked abrupt environmental shifts, with the latter transitioning to a seasonally wet, open landscape dominated by xeric C4 grasses—conditions similar to those when Homo erectus/ergaster fossils were discovered nearby.
Spatial‐temporal evaluation of different reference evapotranspiration methods based on the climate forecast system reanalysis data
A new study reveals that the Hargreaves–Samani method, a simple temperature-based approach, outperforms other evapotranspiration estimation techniques when applied to the Omo-Gibe basin in Ethiopia. This finding is significant for regions with limited climatological data, as it suggests that this method can reliably estimate grass reference evapotranspiration (ETo) despite regional climate and elevation variations. The research, conducted using Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) data from 1979 to 2013, also proposes calibrated coefficients for the Hargreaves–Samani equation to enhance its performance. Additionally, the study highlights that annual ETo trends do not always align with true evapotranspiration patterns, emphasizing the need for careful interpretation of such trends in data-scarce regions.
Conservancies, Conflict and Dispossession: The Winners and Losers of Oil Exploration in Turkana, Kenya
Oil exploration in the Turkana region of Kenya, framed as essential for economic growth, disproportionately benefits local elites and foreign investors while exacerbating inequality and marginalization among pastoralist communities. This study reveals that alliances between local elites and international investors facilitate unjust displacement, potentially leading to violent consequences. Using longitudinal ethnographic research, Mkutu and Mdee analyze the dynamics of local government, oil exploration, and pastoralist livelihoods in Turkana. Their findings highlight the complex interplay between economic development narratives and social justice, underscoring the need for equitable policies to mitigate adverse impacts on vulnerable populations.
Ethnic Identifiers are Not Necessarily Excellent Population Identifiers: A Commentary from the Turkana in North-Western Kenya
Ethnic identifiers, commonly used as population references, may not reliably distinguish human populations due to cultural learning and genetic heterogeneity. A study analyzing the Turkana people of North-Western Kenya challenges the assumption that language, culture, or subsistence practices accurately reflect biological or genetic differences. Instead, it proposes that sampling location and GPS coordinates could serve as more precise identifiers, accounting for environmental variations that influence population traits. This commentary highlights the limitations of traditional ethnic categorization in research, emphasizing the need for nuanced approaches to avoid erroneous conclusions when studying human populations.
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