The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) now wants the relevant stakeholders to enhance collaboration to effectively mitigate on adverse weather conditions occasioned by floods or droughts in the country.
Speaking during a weather forecast workshop at a Garissa hotel, the KMD deputy director Kennedy Thiong’o said the department has consistently been sharing its forecast with all relevant departments and humanitarian organizations to enable planning in case of adverse weather.
He noted that humanitarian organizations among them the Kenya Red Cross; farmers’ representatives; government departments led by the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO); and relevant institutions should work closely so that the information reaches the targeted population on time.
According to the department, the impacts of severe weather in the country in recent years have resulted in casualties and significant damage to property and infrastructures that has in turn caused huge economic losses to communities in the affected areas.
Thiong’o said the department’s officers at the county level interpret the forecast relevant to their areas of jurisdiction and break it down to a language that they can pass on and reach the farmers and other rural folks.
“The stakeholders use the media, especially the local FM radio stations that are popular among the rural folks, to pass this information to allow for mitigation from relevant humanitarian organizations in coordination with the government,” Thiongó said.
“Other platforms that the department is using include social media like WhatsApp groups where the interpreted weather forecast by our officers on the ground is shared,” he added.
Zakaria Misiani, a scientist from the Kenya Red Cross, said that early warnings on adverse weather enable the organization to prepare early and mobilize resources necessary for humanitarian assistance to the victims.
“As an organization we would want to minimize casualties and human suffering in the event of drought, floods or any other disaster. This engagement gives us an opportunity to interact and better our collaboration so that together we can work as a team to assist our people,” Misiani said.
Ebla Hassan, the chairperson of the Garissa County farmers’ association commended the Kenya Meteorological Department for their consistent forecast that has allowed their members to prepare early before the disaster strikes.
The one-week workshop that brought together relevant government departments, humanitarian organizations, youth, women, people with disabilities, the local media, and livestock and irrigation farmers was organized by IGAD.
By Jacob Songok
