Current drought likely to persist for long, says weatherman
A young herder from the Samburu pastoral community grazes his family cattle on the dwindling pasture on the plains of the Loisaba wildlife conservancy on January 24, 2017. AFP PHOTO | TONY KARUMBA
This will happen despite the heavy rainfall witnessed in the last few days in some parts of the country.
Meteorological Department also indicates that the country will experience higher temperatures and uncertainty on rainfall trends and therefore need to adapt through policy technological interventions.
Drought is currently ravaging Rift Valley, eastern, Coast, northeastern and parts of western regions.
The current dry weather conditions may persist longer than usual, the weatherman has said.
This will happen despite the heavy rainfall witnessed in the last few days in some parts of the country.
Drought is currently ravaging Rift Valley, eastern, Coast, northeastern and parts of western regions.
The Kenya Meteorological Department also indicated that the country will experience higher temperatures and uncertainty on rainfall trends and therefore need to adapt through policy technological interventions.
Principal Meteorologist Mrs Mary Kavira said various parts of the country will still experience warm nights and hot days especially in Kisumu and Lodwar.
“There is need to use forecast to help people make informed decisions including planting drought and heat-tolerant varieties,” said Mrs Kavira.
She was speaking Friday on the sidelines of the fifth national workshop by Kenya Meteorological Society, in Kisumu bringing together farmers, disaster managers and NGOs.
Slow implementation
It also emerged that the government is slow in implementing recommendations or projection of the weatherman.
The chairperson of the Kenya Meteorological Society Mrs Stella Aura said when they prepare a forecast, all national government departments are involved and therefore are well informed on the weather patterns.
“We usually share the information with the government, maybe they never knew the drought would be as dire as it is this time round,” said Mrs Aura.
She said the forecast should be key to communities, especially farmers who still depend on rain-fed agriculture.
“We must now change how we do things and explore other techniques to tackle food security,” said Mrs Aura, urging locals to plant more trees as a way of protecting catchment areas.
Kisumu County Executive for environment Mr Barrack Abonyo said already they have allocated Sh6 million for the purchase of seedlings.
“Counties must develop a strategy to protect catchment areas,” said Mr Abonyo.
He called for concerted effort of counties along the Lake Basin in dealing with the hyacinth menace and pollution of lakes and rivers.
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