The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Farmers in Kitui County have been advised to prepare for another difficult season, with forecasts pointing to depressed October–December rains that could worsen food insecurity in the region.
County meteorological director Daniel Mbithi said the expected short rains are likely to be below normal, cautioning farmers to choose the right seeds and inputs to minimise losses.
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His warning follows projections by the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre, which indicated that much of Eastern Kenya will experience drier and warmer conditions, partly due to a developing weak La Niña.
The alert is particularly worrying for Kitui, which already recorded below-average rainfall between March and May, leading to widespread crop losses. According to the National Drought Management Authority, the county only received rain for 40 days instead of the expected 60, with some parts of Kitui, Makueni, and Tharaka Nithi suffering up to 100 per cent crop failure.
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Mbithi urged farmers to treat the forecast as an early warning and shift to drought-resistant seed varieties. He also called on value chain players to align their supplies with the expected weather to avoid distributing unsuitable inputs.
The October short rains are traditionally the most reliable for Lower Eastern Kenya, raising concern that another failed season could severely affect household food security and the local economy.
