County Director of Meteorological Services Stanley Kinyua has said Murang'a is expected to receive depressed rainfall in the October – December rain season.
Kinyua said the seasonal rains expected to start from October 15th to December 20, 2024, will be poorly distributed both in time and space.
He said Murang'a will receive varying rainfall amounts ranging from less than 250mm in lower zones to more than 700mm in upper zones.
“It is expected that most parts of the county will receive depressed rainfall thus not favourable for agricultural activities,” Kinyua said.
“In view of the forecasted rainfall, many sectors will be impacted in different ways. With adequate preparations, the county can avoid some of the likely negative impacts while taking full advantage of the positive ones,” he added.
Kinyua said reduced seasonal rainfall amounts, early cessation and poor distribution are likely to negatively affect agricultural production, especially in lower and middle zones.
“Farmers are encouraged to adopt climate-smart technologies, innovations and management practices such as planting drought tolerant and fast maturing crop varieties, adopting conservation agriculture like minimal or zero tillage, mulching, inclusion of cover crops and doing on-farm rainwater harvesting,” he said.
Kinyua said water for general and domestic use in dams and water pans is expected to reduce and participatory watershed management should be embraced to reduce conflicts from those in irrigated farming.
“During times of drought, human-wildlife conflict is likely to escalate in most parts of the county particularly from Velvet monkeys," he added.
"It’s advisable for relevant government authorities to put in place the necessary contingency plans and early actions.”
On health issues, Kinyua said diseases associated with lack of proper nutrition and poor hygiene due to scarcity of food and water are likely to increase.
“Rapid vulnerability assessment should be carried out and provide food relief and supplements to the most vulnerable population respectively,” he added.
During the last rain season, most parts of the county are said to have received above normal rainfall thus causing landslides and mudslides in middle and upper zones and floods in lower parts of Murang’a.
Kinyua said farmers can preserve part of the produce they harvested last season to use later in the year since food production in the expected short rains will be minimal.
