Met department adopts early warning system to boost disaster preparedness
Dr David Gikungu, stated that the new approach would enable the department and its stakeholders to take proactive steps to prevent and mitigate potential crises, minimising their impacts on various economic sectors and communities at large.
The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) is adopting an Impact-Based Early Warning System (IB-EWS) by engaging various economic sectors and vulnerable communities in its co-design and implementation.
Speaking in Garissa town on Monday during the official opening of the 10th National Climate Outlook Forum for the March to May 2025 long rains season, themed "Enhancing Climate Service for Effective Early Warning in Kenya", the Director of the Meteorological Department, Dr David Gikungu, stated that the new approach would enable the department and its stakeholders to take proactive steps to prevent and mitigate potential crises, minimising their impacts on various economic sectors and communities at large.
More To Read
- Climate crises force millions out of school; Kenya among hardest-hit nations
- Why Trump withdrawal from Paris Agreement is not such a bad thing
- Former KWTA staff to be redeployed following agency's dissolution—Duale
- Isiolo wildfire continues to rage with about 190,000 acres of grazing land destroyed - Red Cross
Dr Gikungu also announced that the department is preparing to launch the Early Warning for All in Kenya initiative, inspired by the United Nations Secretary-General’s agenda to ensure that everyone is protected from hazardous weather, water, or climate events through life-saving early warning systems by the end of 2027.
“Kenya is keen to join this global initiative to meet its national mandate of protecting lives and livelihoods,” he said.
The director assured stakeholders at the forum that their resolutions would inform the weather outlook for the March, April, and May 2025 rainfall season and support various socio-economic sectors in planning and decision-making.
He emphasised the devastating impacts of severe weather events in the country, which have resulted in casualties and significant damage to property and infrastructure, with long-lasting adverse economic consequences for communities.
“Unfortunately, the effects of these devastating weather conditions persist despite the fact that these events are accurately forecast by the department,” he noted.
Stakeholders during the official opening of the 10th National Climate Outlook Forum for the March-May 2025 in Garissa hotel. (Issa Hussein)
Esther Lokwei Lokiyo, Senior Deputy Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, delivered a speech on behalf of Cabinet Secretary for Environment Aden Duale. She highlighted the new early warning measures adopted by KMD and the department’s crucial role in socio-economic development through its timely and accurate weather forecasts and advisories.
“It is worth noting that the department collaborates and partners with relevant stakeholders to communicate weather and climate information to the public in a timely and accurate manner,” she said.
She commended KMD’s efforts to strengthen the interaction between producers and users of weather and climate information by collaborating with key stakeholders to convene the National Climate Outlook Forum (NCOF) for each major rainfall season.
Lokiyo highlighted the importance of scaling up climate services for millions of users in Kenya, particularly prioritising vulnerable communities.
She noted that addressing the multifaceted challenges of climate change requires concerted efforts across government agencies, international organisations, disaster risk bodies, and other disciplines to successfully equip at-risk communities with climate information and advisory services that enable informed decision-making.
She emphasised the primary aim of the National Climate Outlook Forum as delivering effective climate services that inform both short- and long-term decisions, contributing to the resilience of government agencies, organisations, and individuals to current climate variability and change, while also preparing for an increasingly uncertain and challenging future.
This development coincides with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) forecast for the March to May 2025 season, which predicts below-normal rainfall in most parts of the Greater Horn of Africa.
The seasonal climate forecast, released by the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre, projects below-average rainfall in Somalia, eastern and northern Kenya, southern and northeastern Ethiopia, coastal Eritrea, western South Sudan, southern and western Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and northwestern Tanzania.
Top Stories Today
