At a forum that brought together climate scientists from the KMD, community representatives and leaders (including traditional forecasters, religious leaders, chiefs, women leaders, youth leaders and pastoralist and farmer group leaders) ; local government officials (including from the Agriculture, Environment, the provincial administration ,Water, Planning and ASALs), civil society organizations at the community and local levels in Thika, James Muhnidi of the KMD said the situation in the three months appears to be closely related to the devastating drought of 2009.

According to Muhindi, although there was good rainfall the last quarter of 2011 with analysis of the “Short Rains” (October-November-December) 2011 seasonal rainfall indicating that the performance was generally good with all the meteorological stations in Wajir, Lodwar and Mandera recording more than 300 percent of their seasonal (above 75% of the Long-Term Mean (LTM)) rainfall, the pastoralists have however not recovered from the 2009 drought and any rainfall shortfall in the following months will seriously affect them.

Recalling what happened then, communities from NEP said they expect deaths due to starvation, migration in search of pasture and water, conflicts among communities in the province and wildlife human conflicts unless remedial measures are taken.

In 2009, livestock were moved to Lamu, Somalia and few animals that left the province returned. The few that returned came back with diseases.

A combination of drought, high food prices, the lingering effects of post-election violence, a cholera outbreak, and a continued influx of refugees from Somalia left hundreds of thousands of people in the province in need of assistance.

Experts attributed the rise in the shortened cycle of natural disasters to global climate change and environmental degradation.

December, January, February and March have so far been dry. Muhindi said January recorded the highest temperatures in 13 years and some parts of NEP have already started some water stress and reduced pasture.

He urged government agencies not to relax based on the last good rain season last October, November and December warning that pastoralists require two good seasons before they can fully recover.

However, this time round, said Muhinid, pastoralists are likely to be hit with another devastating drought before they are fully recovered.

According to predictions from the global circulations from the Pacific and other factors controlling the weather, the factors indicate the 2009 scenario…meaning that rainfall would be very little. Then rainfall was less than 20%.

The rain is expected on the second week of April and may last barely two weeks to end early May.

Maureen Amabni, Climate and Communication officer, CARE International in Kenya’s Adaptation Learning Programme(ALP) the communities will pick the information and take it down to their communities who will in turn decide what to do with the information.

AUTHOR: Henry Neondo
URL: http:// www.africasciencenews.org
E-MAIL: neondohenry [at] yahoo.com

Nigeria

Climate change for its mitigation objective is driving a new trend around the world for energy efficiency; this submits that new solutions are sought in direction of power generation and low carbon transport. Nigeria recently benefitted from UK’s Climate Fund for low carbon public transport and energy efficiency. The funds came about to propel Nigeria to further advance in this direction and possibly have Nigeria face a major objective: Power generation.

Power generation for any economy is important to development and advancement; this is usually a factor for economic standing of nations. Power as a component of advancement prompts nations to find ways to improve existing sources for efficiency, transmission loss reduction and affordability; research for new sources are also continuous.

Sources of power for Nations in the Sub-Saharan include thermal and hydro; issues with these sends attention to use of renewable energy, nuclear energy and others. Nigeria, a top economy in the Sub-Saharan adopts on a small scale renewables for electrical and mechanical power generation.

Solar, Wind and Biomass are examples of renewable sources known in Nigeria; their deployment on a large scale is part of Government plans to diversify power sources. Nigeria, for her status as a developing economy faces several issues; these issues require balanced attention towards projected advancement.

Plans for large scale deployment of these sources can start from now to subsume in future budget and to affirm suitability of selected site; for these, deployment may come in about 7 years. Sites will be identified from now and studied further to determine average wind speed or solar radiation intensity against data recorded from time past to ascertain suitability.

Topography, depth to water level, possibility of alluvion and more will be useful to know more about selected sites or sites considered for selection. Construction of modern landfills is necessary to harness power from Biomass; upgrade of existing ones to required standard is a necessity too.

Government from now can buy bonds and equities to provide funds for the projects at that time; budget cuts to some sectors planned and announced from now may provide extra finance for the project.  Deals by the government with proven manufacturers will ensure that manpower training and wind turbine or photovoltaic cells peculiar for this environment are used.

Reports from pundits in relation to geological, geographical and meteorological status of different places in Nigeria should be reviewed closely by authorities to ensure that good sites are selected. Site mapping, study of suitability, research for new power sources, development of smarter photovoltaic cells and more are preparations that should start now. A particular source maybe used for two or more states sharing borders to increase their focus for growth in that line and ease in transmission.

Traditional sources of power used in Nigeria will not be phased out but will be used in parts of states that due to distance may cost much for transmission system or some other states that will later join the first stage deployment of this alternative energy. Nigeria from today can prepare for energy generation to accommodate demands, projection, industries and population for the future; active and serious plans should start from now to tilt Nigeria closer to advancement.

AUTHOR: David Stephen
URL: http://www.trpns.com
E-MAIL: Stephen [at] trpns.com