Environment CS Duale urges weatherman to provide accurate forecasts

 

Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale  signs a visitors book after he was received at Kenya Meteorological Department by Director Dr David Gikungu. [Courtesy]

Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has challenged the Kenya Metrological Department to strive to provide accurate weather forecasts.

Duale on Wednesday said weather information is critical to Kenya's overall wellbeing in the wake of the worsening global climate change crisis.

While recalling some of the weatherman’s recent forecasts, Duale urged the institution to ensure the predictions are timely and verifiable to enable all sectors of the Kenyan economy to make informed decisions.

"This institution is critical not only to Kenya but to the entire world. Aviation experts depend on your information. The Ministry of Agriculture use your information to plan Kenya's food security," said Duale.

The former legislator and Defence Cabinet Secretary applauded the met department for modernising its equipment and technology, noting that recent near-accurate weather predictions had raised public confidence in the institution.

Duale spoke during a familiarisation visit to the institution’s Dagoretti Corner headquarters in Nairobi County where he assured of his full support.

He said the Met Department was at the core of Kenya's climate action agenda and committed to lobbying for increased financial support for the institution from both the Government and the development partners.

“Accurate forecasts are critical in the management of the severity of the worsening weather extremes such as the cyclic climate change-induced flooding and drought episodes facing the country,” he said.

According to him, the weatherman should leverage new technologies to ensure wider dissemination of regular weather forecasts.

On the ongoing legislative process to transform the institution into a semi-autonomous state entity, Duale said he will see to it that the Meteorological Bill currently before parliament is passed.

The CS was accompanied on the visit by Environment and Climate Change Principal Secretary Dr Festus Ng'eno and several senior Ministry officials led by Secretary for Administration Mr John Elungata.

The Kenya Metrological Department is a department of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry with the broad mandate of providing timely weather and climate information for the safety of life, protection of property, and conservation of the natural environment.