Mount Kenya, the country's tallest peak and a major tourist attraction, is rapidly losing its snow and glaciers. Scientists warn the mountain could be completely ice-free by 2030, a grim forecast as Kenya records its hottest year on record in 2024.
Lewis Glacier, one of Mount Kenya’s most striking features, shrank by nearly 90 per cent between 1934 and 2010, according to researchers. The once-pristine ice sheets are now reduced to scattered pockets, marking a dramatic transformation in the mountain’s appearance.
Charles Kibaki Muchiri, a long-time guide who has roamed the mountain slopes for 25 years, says the changes are undeniable. “Those colours of the white snow and the ice would make the mountain look very, very beautiful,” he said.
“Right now, it's just rocks with small patches of ice and snow. A big, big change in the weather.”
The disappearance of the glaciers is not just an environmental concern but an economic one. Mount Kenya is one of Africa’s few glacier-capped peaks, drawing climbers and tourists from around the world.
Scientists fear it could become one of the first mountains of the modern era to lose all its ice.
“Some years back, there used to be ice caves here. We would go inside and take beautiful photos,” Muchiri recalled. “But now, the caves are gone. The Lewis Glacier is vanishing due to excessive melting.”
The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) confirmed Thursday that 2024 was the country’s warmest year on record. Its latest report, "State of the Climate in Kenya 2024," points to a disturbing pattern of rising temperatures.
Kenya’s mean maximum temperature has increased steadily since 1979, with the past two decades showing a sharp acceleration.
Scientists attribute the extreme weather to multiple factors, including El Niño conditions earlier in the year, which brought warmer Pacific Ocean surface temperatures and severe flooding.
The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), a phenomenon marked by temperature imbalances between the ocean’s eastern and western sections, also played a role in Kenya’s erratic climate.
As global warming intensifies, concerns grow that Kenya could soon lose one of its most iconic natural wonders. For Muchiri, the transformation is heartbreaking. “We expect the glacier will keep getting smaller, and maybe in the future, it will disappear completely.”
The impact extends beyond aesthetics. The loss of glaciers could disrupt local ecosystems, threaten water sources, and alter the tourism industry.
Mount Kenya’s glaciers are a crucial source of fresh water for nearby communities, and their disappearance could trigger broader environmental crises.
As temperatures climb, experts warn of worsening droughts, unpredictable rainfall, and increased instances of extreme weather. The rapid changes on Mount Kenya serve as a visible testament to the accelerating climate crisis.
