Defending Land and Identity: BWYO Leads Community Recovery Along Lake Baringo

Baringo Women and Youth Organization (BWYO) is a grassroots organization based in Marigat, Baringo County, Kenya. Formed and led by Indigenous Ilchamus women and youth, BWYO was established to amplify the voices of one of Kenya’s most marginalized communities—those living along the flood-prone shores of Lake Baringo. As climate change accelerates the expansion of the lake and displaces entire villages, the Ilchamus people face the loss of land, homes, sacred cultural sites, and traditional livelihoods. BWYO steps in as a locally rooted and trusted actor, engaging communities in restoring degraded rangelands, promoting agroecological practices, and reviving cultural knowledge and practices threatened by environmental disruption.