In Pictures

Adapting in the face of climate change in rural Kenya

For farmers across the globe, access to reliable weather and climate data is critical in adapting to a new normal.

Across Kenya the years long drought had a significant impact on the communities. A water pan used to collect rainwater for farming dried completely in Kakuma, making it impossible to produce food. — Across Kenya, the years-long drought had a significant effect on communities. A water pan used to collect rainwater for farming dried completely in Kakuma, making it impossible to produce food. [Ingebjorg Karstad/NRC]

By Oda Lykke Jernberg and Ingebjorg Karstad

“Will there be rain? I can’t tell. People used to come to me for advice, but now I tell them that I am also wondering what is happening,” says Clement Mangi, a traditional weather forecaster and farmer from Kenya.

He uses traditional forecasting methods passed down for generations. But in recent years, most of the things that used to be definite signs of imminent rainfall are no longer reliable.

Eighty percent of food produced across many communities in Africa comes from small-scale farmers like Mangi. This sector is highly vulnerable to extreme weather. While the continent is responsible for only a fraction of global greenhouse emissions, it is heavily affected by climate change.

After five failed rainfall seasons, communities in the Horn of Africa were hit by what became known as the worst drought in 40 years, between late 2020 and early 2023. Seven million children under the age of five became malnourished and urgently needed nutrition assistance across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.

While climate change is listed as a leading cause of the rise in global hunger, there are big gaps in weather observations and early warning services. Information that would help local farmers better prepare themselves for extreme weather and adapt their farming to secure a good harvest, is missing.

In Kenya, some people are working hard to change that.

Clement Mangi walks across his dry maize fields. “We are concerned because we are starving. All of what I have planted is dead. Many animals have died. We ask ourselves what we have done wrong.” — Clement Mangi walks across his dry maize fields. 'We are concerned because we are starving. All of what I have planted is dead. Many animals have died. We ask ourselves what we have done wrong.' [Ingebjorg Karstad/NRC]

Tidorah Lukila is a volunteer rain gauge reader for the Kenyan Meteorological Department. Every morning at nine o’clock, Tidorah checks her rain gauge. If it has rained, she informs the local department the same day and once a month she sends her full log report. Being a volunteer has sparked her interest in weather information. “I saw first-hand how it benefitted my own farming,” she says. — Tidorah Lukila is a volunteer rain gauge reader for the Kenya Meteorological Department. Every day at 9am, Tidorah checks her rain gauge. If it has rained, she informs the local department the same day and once a month she sends her full log report. [Ingebjorg Karstad/NRC]

Tidorah uses a large garden syringe to measure rainfall from a small plastic container placed in her garden. She is part of an important mission to strengthen the climate and weather data for East Africa. [Ingebjorg Karstad/NRC]

Christopher Mungai, a meteorological technician at the Kenya Meteorological Department in Taita Taveta plots weather data into a digital global system by the World Meteorological Organization. The office has its own weather station and observations must be uploaded to the system immediately after being registered. This is done every hour across the 47 local stations in Kenya. — Christopher Mungai, a meteorological technician at the Kenya Meteorological Department in Taita Taveta plots weather data into a digital global system for the World Meteorological Organization. [Ingebjorg Karstad/NRC]

Sunburned and dead crops in north-western Kenya. Refugee families in Kakuma have ended up in deep financial debt as harvests failed again and again due to the drought. — Sunburned and dead crops in northwestern Kenya. Refugee families in Kakuma have ended up in extreme debt as harvests fail again and again due to the drought. [Ingebjorg Karstad/NRC]

At the regional climate centre, ICPAC, data collected from the global system is broken down and analysed. ICPAC issues seasonal, monthly and weekly forecasts, seasonal outlooks and early warning systems for eleven countries in East Africa. The centre also monitors hazards and makes the information freely available to all through the East African Hazards Watch, the East Africa Drought Watch and the Agricultural Watch. — At the regional climate centre, ICPAC, data collected from the global system is broken down and analysed. ICPAC issues seasonal, monthly and weekly forecasts, seasonal outlooks and early warning systems for 11 countries in East Africa. [Ingebjorg Karstad/NRC]

Mary Githingi at the Kenyan Meteorological Department in Nairobi is closely following up initiatives to strengthen climate services across Kenya. The department receives forecasts from ICPAC, which is then translated to national and local level forecasts. This is done in close collaboration with farmers, fishermen, traditional forecasters, journalists, and representatives from government sectors including health and agriculture. Based on this forecast, together they then plan for the upcoming food production season and what changes they must make to adapt to the season’s forecast. — Mary Githingi at the Kenyan Meteorological Department in Nairobi is closely following up initiatives to strengthen climate services across Kenya. The department receives forecasts from ICPAC, which is then translated to national and local forecasts. [Ingebjorg Karstad/NRC]

People are given advice depending on the forecast, for instance on planting alternative crops that are more resilient to drought and suitable for the climate. Good alternatives include mung beans, locally known as green grams, groundnuts, macadamia trees and hay farming. During the prolonged drought, even hardy green grams struggled to grow. — People are given advice depending on the forecast, for instance on planting alternative crops that are more resilient to drought and suitable for the climate. Good alternatives include mung beans, locally known as green grams, groundnuts, macadamia trees and hay. [Ingebjorg Karstad/NRC]

Journalist, Linda Akoth, presents the daily weather at her morning show at Sifa radio station in the town of Voi, Taita Taveta. She receives the forecasts directly on her phone from the Kenya Meteorological Department. Linda produces daily weather reports and news stories that explore the wider impact of the forecasts. She also interviews government officials, aid organisations and farmers to hear how the weather affects them. — Journalist Linda Akoth presents the daily weather at her morning show at Sifa radio station in the town of Voi, Taita Taveta. She receives the forecasts directly on her phone from the Kenya Meteorological Department. [Ingebjorg Karstad/NRC]

Radio is an important source for information in Kenya. Climate information is often technical. To help journalists better understand the information, the regional climate centre has trained over 30 journalists across Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya to report on weather and climate in an effective and easy way for communities. — Radio is an important source for information in Kenya. Climate information is often technical. To help journalists better understand the information, the regional climate centre has trained more than 30 journalists across Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya to report on weather and climate in an effective and easy way for communities. [Ingebjorg Karstad/NRC]

Farmer Jonnes Ellijah Mlegwah receives information from the Kenya Meteorological Department through a WhatsApp group and the radio. He is responsible for sharing the information weekly with farmers in a farmer field school. There they also discuss the advisories given and how to adapt their farming. Jonnes explains what he has done at his farm to cope with drought. “Before, I used to plant crops without following the weather forecasts,” Jonnes says. “Today, if we have less rain, we are told to grow crops that are drought-tolerant and mature early – like green grams.” — Farmer Jonnes Ellijah Mlegwah receives information from the Kenya Meteorological Department through a WhatsApp group and the radio. He is responsible for sharing information weekly with farmers in a farmer field school. There they also discuss the advisories given and how to adapt their farming. [Ingebjorg Karstad/NRC]

Jonnes has made significant changes to the way he works to adapt to climate change. In addition to learning about various crops, he also makes use of alternative composting methods, natural pesticides and irrigation methods to save water. This has proven successful, he produces maize, sweet peppers, melons, sweet potatoes and green grams. He also buys truck water to supplement rationed tap water. “My concern is that climate change has really affected farming. We are no longer able to sustain our crops on rainwater alone,” he says. — Jonnes has made significant changes to the way he works to adapt to climate change. In addition to learning about various crops, he also makes use of alternative composting methods, natural pesticides and irrigation methods to save water. [Ingebjorg Karstad/NRC]

The traditional forecaster, Clement Mangi at his home in Taita Taveta. In Kenya, maize is a staple food and perceived as a safe crop. — The traditional forecaster, Clement Mangi, at his home in Taita Taveta. In Kenya, maize is a staple food and perceived as a safe crop. Although, there are drought-resilient maize varieties, most farmers continue to plant the regular type – despite several seasons of underperformance. [Ingebjorg Karstad/NRC]