Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa has urged citizens to take proactive measures to prevent rainwater from simply running off into lakes and oceans.
In a statement on X, the CS emphasised that enhancing rainwater harvesting could significantly improve water security.
"The short rains have began in some parts of the Country. Let us not watch it all become surface run off and end up in our lakes and the Ocean," he said.
In addition to relying on existing dams and storage infrastructure, the CS highlighted the role that individuals can play in rain harvesting.
"Our water storage capacity is about 107m3 per capita. In addition to our dams and other storage infrastructure, we can all contribute to water storage by embracing rain harvesting in our own small ways, such as roof harvesting. Farmers can do small water pans/ basins and ditches in their farms," the CS further said.
The CS also advocated for nature-based solutions, including using urban green spaces as detention and retention basins. "Such initiatives would not only recharge underground aquifers but also help manage downstream flooding."
The CS further said the long-term plan is to have adequate water storage to solve flooding challenges and use the water for irrigation. "This will then boost our food security efforts."
Kenya Meteorological Department on November 2 said Kenya may end up enjoying just a few weeks of rain for the remainder of the year, followed by a hot and dry January, the weatherman says.
The forecast tallies with a new United Nations report that has named Kenya among the countries likely to experience severe hunger early next year.
David Gikungu, director of the Meteorological Department, blamed the delayed rains on a phenomenon called a negative Indian Ocean Dipole, which refers to cold waters in the Indian Ocean near east Africa.
This causes dry weather in the region. “The delayed onset is as a result of the negative Indian Ocean Dipole that has been developing over the past few weeks,” he said.
Gikungu said the rains will trickle in next week or the second week of November in most places. The areas where rains will be depressed include Coast, northeastern Kenya, the entire of eastern Kenya and Mt Kenya.
