Kenya's top weatherman is making dire predictions about the weather

godfred akoto

February 21, 2018 12:34 PM

Ambenje said that Northeastern and some parts of South Eastern and Coastal region will receive less rainfall that will start in early April

Kenya's top weatherman has warned the country to expect a period of intense heat and less water as climate change continues to wreak havoc with weather patterns.

Peter Ambenje, who serves as the Director of Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), said the current situation was having an adverse effect on the several sectors of everyday life.

"The intense heat is also impacting the level of water in the country negatively hence causing panic amongst stakeholders in the sub sector," Ambenje said this while making the March-April-May long rain season forecast for the country.

"The long rains are based on the prevailing and the expected evolution of seas surface temperature anomalies over the pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans," he noted.

Ambenje said that Northeastern and some parts of South Eastern and Coastal region will receive less rainfall that will start in early April.

According to the forecast, less rainfall that was experienced in October-November-December 2017 period resulted into poor crop failure, deteriorating forage and pasture, reduced water resource for domestic use, drinking and sanitation.

It also led to increased potential of food insecurity in various parts of the country deaths of livestock. "The seasonal rainfall onset will commence during the fourth week of March in western Kenya," Ambeje added.

He challenged farmers to consult agricultural officials on drought-tolerant seed varieties to grow as opposed to planting uncertified seeds.

"We also expect livestock farmers to sell off their stock early to avoid making losses when livestock finally dies due to lack of pasture and water," he added.

godfred akoto