A flooded hotel resort at Lake Baringo in Kenya, where the lake water level unexpectedly rose by four meters in 2012 and 2013.
Photo credits: IndustryAndTravel / shutterstock.com
Climate change in Kenya
by Bosibori Osusu • 28 September 2023
Climate change is a global problem, not just local, and Kenya happens to be one of the many countries that have experienced adverse effects of this phenomenon.
First things first, what is climate change? Climate change is the long-term shift in temperatures and weather patterns that have come to define earth’s local, regional and global climates. These shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions, but are also man-made. Since the 1800s, human activities have been the main cause of climate change, mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.
These actions generate greenhouse gas emissions that form a blanket-like cover wrapped around earth, shifting the balance of the equilibrium temperature where the warmth energy that is radiated off from earth into space is equal to the energy which comes to the earth from the sun. Hence the rise in temperatures in the global average. Although Kenya is among the least contributors of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, she still bears the side effects of climate change. Kenya is unfortunately among the many developing countries that have a low adaptive capacity, a high vulnerability to climate change, and which therefore are highly and unfairly affected.
As a result of climate change, the amount of rainfall has varied more than it used to. Increasingly often, the rainy season starts late and/or ends early. Many farmers have incurred huge losses when the seeds they plant either do not germinate or if they do, they may end up being destroyed by unexpected floods.
I sought the opinion of one of the local lecturers who are involved in the research and study of climate change in Kenya, Professor Odongo. “Climate change has greatly affected Kenya’s economy which is greatly dependent on tourism and rain fed agriculture, both of which are an easy target to climate change and extreme weather events,” Professor Odongo said.
He also added that it has greatly affected the economic growth of the country, since Kenya is vulnerable to climate change impacts as a result of the high climate sensitivity in addition to its low capacity to adapt and also high poverty levels.
I asked what the effects of climate change have been so far to the country. “Some of the effects of climate change in Kenya include, but are not limited to decreased yields of the most important staple foods like maize and beans, which causes increased food insecurity all over the country.” He also mentioned health hazards related to extreme weather conditions. We experience floods and drought in equal measure. “There has been increased number of refugees all over the country as a result.”
It is estimated that food insecurity is expected to increase over the next forty years or so, and also availability of water in the future is unpredictable. Unfortunately, most people are not aware that human activities have been a major contributor of climate change adverse effects. Pastoralist communities have been forced to venture further in search of food and water for their animals and this has sometimes caused community clashes since everyone wants to protect the little they do have.
“What are the measures that need to be put in place to curb the effects of climate change,” I asked.
“Unfortunately, there has been some irreversible effects but we need to come up with some coping or adaptive master plan. We might not be able to completely eradicate the burning of fossil fuels such as gas, coal and oil, but we can reduce them. We can also switch to using renewable energies such as wind and solar. One way of doing this is to sensitize the community. It is also important that we adapt to these impacts and also finance the required adjustments. Unfortunately, in developing countries such as Kenya, the economy is already stretched, hence such a measure is a little far-fetched.”
Climate change has continued to be a huge threat to global socio-economic development and environmental sustainability. Effects such as water and food security, and also economic growth have increasingly become challenging. We all must take action on climate change but the greater responsibility lies with the people and countries creating most of the problem, and they need to act now.
Next: Do pastors just take?, by Eric Bosire.
Notes:
About the author:
Bosibori Osusu is a Kenyan Journalist. She lives and works in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya.
About the image:
Used under license from Shutterstock. shutterstock.com Stock Photo ID: 280676474.
Suggested citation:
Bosibori Osusu: Climate change in Kenya, MissionField News (ISSN 2813-2270)
https://missionfield.news/2023/18_Climate
2023-09-28.