The Suguta Valley also referred to as ‘Sugta Mud Flats’ is among the driest areas within Kenya, and considered to be among the hottest places nearest to the equator. It lies on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, immediately south of the largest desert lake – Lake Turkana. Its distant location restricts field studies to be conducted there. However, data reveals that the valley receives less than 300mm of rainfall each year, whereas its experiences between 3000mm – 4000mm of evaporation annually. Surprising to mention is that this very dry valley was a large lake about 8000 years back.
Once Lake Suguta
Several years back, this valley was filled with Lake Suguta, and occasionally overflowing into the nearby Lake Turkana. Due to the variations in rainfall during the past 18000years ago, the water levels rose and dropped. However, about 8000 years ago, what was a lake started drying up to this arid valley we see today. .
The Ecology of Suguta Valley:
The valley has some saline waters which offer food for plankton plus cyano-bacteria. Numerous flamingoes converge here and feed on the plankton. Also Turkana and the Pokot cattle rustlers use this valley as a hideout.
Why the Valley Of Death
The Suguta Valley is referred to as the valley of death by the local people because several people have died in this valley. Among the outstanding scenarios sighted by the locals include: a chopper that was brought down in the Suguta Valley in 1996; it was carrying Ishmael Chelang’a the former provincial commissioner, and a police commander together with hundreds of national police officers were killed in this valley, not to mention the countless locals that have also dies in the Suguta Valley.
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