A few months ago, the Meteorological Department issued a warning about an impending El Nino. In its October-November-December 2014 outlook, the Met office warned of extended and heavy rainfall across the country. This is already being experienced in some parts of the country.
That is due to sea surface temperatures favourable for the development of a weak El Nino forming in the region.
Simply put, the relationship between wind, ocean currents, oceanic and atmospheric temperature, and biosphere is breaking down into destructive patterns.
The United Nations has issued several warnings this year. It warned that there was an 80 per cent likelihood that El Nino could start between October and November. What has been experienced lately confirms this prediction.
Usually, when the phenomenon kicks off, areas like southwest United States and southern Africa experience dry weather while Kenya and the East African region will be inundated with heavy rain, leading to floods and landslides causing human and animal displacement.
Some of the other effects include diplomatic spats between countries over drifting fishing zones. So far, there is no indication of adequate preparedness against disaster in the country.
There is a feeling that the Government has done little to mitigate against this naturally occurring phenomenon despite the early warnings. It would be catastrophic for the country to be caught flat-footed by an El Nino phenomenon, as happened about 20 years ago.
The State ought to put in place mechanisms to mitigate the effects, as well as contingency plans on how to handle the flooding and landslides, if these occur. In 1997, the country experienced the El Nino phenomenon with very serious consequences.
There were fatal landslides in various parts of the country. The flooding also destroyed vital infrastructure like roads, buildings, railway lines, power lines and crops in the farms.
The Government has invested a lot in building roads. The national and county governments should endeavour to improve drainage lines to give these roads longer life when the rains set in. Residents in areas prone to landslides should be given advance warning to evacuate.
The Government should also make plans to harvest surface water for use when the dry spell sets in.
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