Provision of easily accessible, timely and decision-relevant climate information can help society to cope with current climate variability and change; and in turn limit the economic and social damage caused by climate-related disasters. Climate Information Services (CIS) can also support society to build resilience to future climate change and take advantage of opportunities provided by favourable climate conditions. An effective…
Kenya is frequently affected by weather-related disasters, particularly droughts and floods. Drought occurs cyclically and historically it has affected Kenya’s economy more significantly than floods. Recurrent droughts have destroyed livelihoods, triggered local conflicts over scarce resources and eroded the ability of communities to cope. Heavy rainfall during the season causes flash floods which mostly affect urbanised areas. Kenya Meteorological Department…
Kenya is frequently affected by weather and climate related disasters, particularly droughts and floods. Drought occurs cyclically and historically they have affected Kenya’s economy more significantly than floods.Recurrent droughts have destroyed livelihoods, triggered local conflicts over scarce resources and eroded the ability of communities to cope with the vagaries of climate change. Heavy rainfall during the season causes flash floods…
The new constitution of Kenya (GoK, 2010) offers the opportunity for services to be moved closer to the citizens at the county and sub-county (constituency) or community/grassroots levels. This opportunity, in turn, calls for a concerted effort by KMD to strengthen its infrastructure and services to reach and have the desired influence upon the community or grassroots level of society,…
Weather and climate have direct influence and impact on human comfort, socio-economic activities and the natural environment. Over the years, humans have altered natural ecosystems through various activities leading to modified local and regional climates. Today, human influence on the physical environment at a global scale is depicted by rapid increase in population size, energy consumption, intensity of land use,…
Summary Strengthening the use of weather and climate information within decision making is essential to supporting those people whose lives and livelihoods are at risk from climate variability, extremes and change. This process often brings together organisations that have not worked together before or do not have a well-established understanding of each other’s ways of working. Produced as a working…
Summary From 2014 KMD has been piloting a two-tiered Climate Information Services (CIS) intermediary system in Kitui and Makueni counties. Following a series of training, KMD has been providing climate information via SMS and a system of intermediaries in the two counties. The CIS intermediary network aims to ensure that seasonal, monthly, weekly and daily forecasts and weather warnings support…
Summary Supporting the process of devolution and decentralisation in Kenya, the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) piloted the development of a County Climate Information Services (CIS) plan. Designed to develop climate information which can support decision makers across County Government and key livelihood groups, the plan was developed through focus group, key informant interviews and technical reviews, with the draft plan…
Introduction The production of seasonal forecast information is a key activity for East African NMSs such as the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD). The information produced in seasonal forecast activities is used to inform government bodies, livelihood sectors and the general public on the expected conditions in an upcoming rainy season. It is a key piece of information for informing decision…
Ada Consortium has supported Kenya Meteorological Service (KMS) to develop an approach to decentralised service delivery, and to begin to develop and deliver elements of it in the Ada focus counties, particularly in Kitui and Makueni. The approach is based around supporting County Directors of Meteorology (CDMs) to engage with County Administrations, the production of County Climate Information Service Plans,…