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Kenya’s Water Woes: How Climate Change is Threatening to Disintegrate the Country’s Water Security

The post-colonial Kenyan economy was heavily dependent on agriculture with its GDP covering a massive 35% while giving employment to 35% of the population.

This was in the 70s and several decades later, over 70% of the entire rural population in Kenya still relies on agriculture to make a living. But there is a thorn on their side preventing seamless growth of the agriculture sector, stifling the economy, and rendering a majority of the population unable to fend for themselves - the lack of rain.

Kenya is heavily reliant on rainfall for its water supply. Still, the changes in climate are causing significant shifts in the rainfall patterns and amounts which ultimately results in more extreme and unpredictable weather events such as water scarcity resulting in droughts and thereafter unprecedented floods.

Taking a look at the last two decades, there have been a significantly higher number of failed rainfall seasons than ever experienced. The year 2022 marked the 5th year of a failed rainy season in Kenya, not saying that there has been no rainfall the entire time, but the wet seasons have failed to satisfy the amount of water needed to sustain the agricultural economy. The amount of water is just not enough.

Taking a look at the flip side, when rainfall does occur, the amount is so intense that it results in flooding. Livestock and property are lost, dormant waterborne diseases emerge, and most devastatingly, lives are lost. The aftermath of the floods is intense degradation of the valuable topsoil resulting in decreased agricultural productivity of the land.

Crop failure, food shortages and loss of life is a situation that exacerbates poverty and food insecurity. Despite this, the Kenyan economy is still chugging on, with the resilience of the Kenyan people remaining strong throughout this uncertain time. Is the new normal likely to spill over into the years 2023 and 2024? Are we staring at the face of a new climate regime in Kenya? Only time will tell.