Martha Waema and her husband stared in dismay at their flooded farm, a stark reminder of the weeks of relentless rainfall that had ravaged Kenya. The water levels would rise to shoulder height after just one night of heavy downpour, leaving their hopes for a successful harvest shattered. They had invested 80,000 shillings ($613) in maize, peas, cabbages, tomatoes, and kale, expecting a return of 200,000 shillings ($1,500) from their three acres. But now, everything was lost. “I have been farming for 38 years, but I have never encountered losses of this magnitude,” said the 62-year-old mother of 10, her voice heavy with despair. Their financial security and optimism were shaken by what Kenya’s government labeled “a clear manifestation of the erratic weather patterns caused by climate change.” The rains, which began in mid-March, had not only caused widespread flooding but also claimed nearly 300 lives, pushed dams to record highs, and prompted the government to order evacuations from flood-prone areas, even resorting to bulldozing the homes of those who refused to leave.
The devastation extends beyond individual tragedies, with a looming food security crisis and soaring food prices threatening a nation where the president had aimed to make agriculture a cornerstone of the economy. Kenya’s government estimates that the flooding has destroyed crops on more than 168,000 acres (67,987 hectares) of land, representing less than 1% of the country’s agricultural land. As farmers grapple with the losses, the magnitude of which is yet unknown, the deluge has exposed what opposition politicians call Kenya’s inadequate preparedness for climate change and related disasters, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable land management and more accurate weather forecasting.
Waema, now forced to dig trenches to protect whatever remains of her farm in Machakos County on the outskirts of Nairobi, is not alone in her grief. Yet, amidst the devastation, there are stories of resilience. About 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Waema’s farm, in Olokirikirai, 65-year-old farmer James Tobiko Tipis and his 16-acre farm have escaped the flooding. His success lies in proactive measures, like terracing his crops to prevent soil erosion, a common threat in the area prone to landslides. “We used to lose topsoil and whatever we were planting,” he said, highlighting the importance of adapting to the challenges posed by climate change.
Experts echo the need for such proactive measures, urging Kenyan farmers to protect their farms against soil erosion, which is likely to be exacerbated by future climate shocks. Jane Kirui, an agricultural officer in Narok County, emphasizes the importance of terracing, cover crops, and other techniques that promote water absorption. However, experts note that despite the current abundant rainfall, efforts to conserve water resources in Kenya’s rural areas remain inadequate. Professor John Gathenya of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology advocates for diversified crops and focusing on the soil’s natural water retention capacity. “The soil remains the biggest reservoir for water,” he said, stressing that leveraging this natural resource requires far less investment than large infrastructure projects like dams.
Yet, to harness this potential, the soil needs protection, particularly from the deforestation that has left parts of Kenya vulnerable to severe runoff. “We are opening land in new fragile environments where we need to be even more careful the way we farm,” Gathenya said, highlighting the irony of pushing into increasingly fragile areas in pursuit of food production while neglecting the vital soil conservation practices that were prevalent 50 years ago. As Kenya grapples with the devastating effects of flooding, the need for sustainable land management practices, improved preparedness, and a shift in agricultural approaches that prioritize soil conservation and water resource management becomes increasingly clear. The future of Kenyan agriculture, and indeed the nation’s food security, hinges on learning from the current crisis and adapting to a changing climate.
