CS Duale said in a world where exacerbated climate variability and uncertainty are projected as significant consequences of climate change, equipping policy-makers with timely information and advisories goes a long way.
Duale noted that the most difficult step in climate services is always to bridge the gap between weather forecasters and sector-specific expertise in order to move from climate information to a useable climate service.
Dr. David Gikungu, the Director of the Kenya Meteorological Department, delivering his speech/STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Environment and Climate Change CS Aden Duale has underscored the crucial role played by the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) in socio-economic development through its mandate of providing timely and accurate weather forecasts and advisories. In a speech delivered on his behalf by Esther Lokwei Lokiyo, Senior Deputy Secretary State Department for Environment and Climate Change in Garissa, at the opening of the 10th National Climate Outlook Forum for Kenya for the March-April-May 2025 long rainy season,Duale said these weather and climate services are important for planning and decision-making and are key to sustainable development. Duale said in a world where exacerbated climate variability and uncertainty are projected as significant consequences of climate change, equipping policy-makers with timely information and advisories goes a long way towards helping them to anticipate climate-related shocks. Garissa and its neighbouring Tana River county are some of the counties that have in the past bore the brunt of ever-changing climatic conditions. Floods have perennially wrecked havoc, causing death, displacement, and destruction of property. The recent incident happened in April, when at least 20 people lost their lives in the Kona punda area while travelling on a boat. “It is important to scale up climate services for millions of users in the country, but it is equally crucial to reach the most vulnerable. To achieve this goal, collaboration with end users of climate information is critical," she said.
He applauded KMD for continuously seeking
collaboration and partnerships, which he noted assist in disseminating the
weather and climate information in a way that is easily understood by all end
users and can be incorporated in key decision-making. Duale noted that the most difficult step in climate
services is always to bridge the gap between weather forecasters and
sector-specific expertise in order to move from climate information to a
useable climate service. He said the National Climate Outlook Forum [NCOF]
continues to play an instrumental role in coordinating institutions to enable
them to work together to co-design, co-produce, communicate, deliver, and use
climate services for decision-making in climate-sensitive socioeconomic
sectors. He said that in order to manage climate risks,
decision-makers must understand the risks well and be able to anticipate them. “A well-functioning climate service has the potential
to inform a range of both short- and long-term decisions, contributing to the
resilience of governments, organizations, and individuals to current climate
change and variability while also preparing for an uncertain future that is
very likely to be even more challenging. This is the basic aim of the National
Climate Outlook Forums,” Duale said.Esther Lokwei Lokiyo, Senior Deputy Secretary State
Department for Environment and Climate Change, reads the CS’s speech/STEPHEN ASTARIKO
On his part, Dr. David Gikungu, the Director of the Kenya Meteorological
Department, said the department endeavours to collaborate and partner with the
relevant stakeholders to communicate weather and climate information to the
public in a timely and accurate manner.
The three-day workshop brought together several
stakeholders, among them representatives of various Ministry Department
agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, and all
stakeholders of weather and climate services.
Others in attendance are representatives of the WFP, UNDP, and United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction.
Dr. David Gikungu, the Director of the Kenya Meteorological Department, delivering his speech/STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Esther Lokwei Lokiyo, Senior Deputy Secretary State
Department for Environment and Climate Change, reads the CS’s speech/STEPHEN ASTARIKO