Stakeholders alarmed as drought period enters alert stage in Kitui county

 

Kitui County Deputy Governor Augustine Kanani.

During deliberations at a high level meeting held on December 18, 2025 stakeholders acknowledged a worsening trend which needs quick interventions.

The meeting co-chaired by Kitui County Deputy Governor Augustine Kanani and County Commissioner Erastus Mbui was also attended by Kitui county drought coordinator for NDMA Eunice Mutuku, development partners and line ministry staff from both national and county governments. 

The below average rainfall were characterised by false onset in late October leading to poor harvests, a report on the forum says.

As a result,  the County Steering Group came up with recommendations for better livelihoods of Kitui county residents. 

 They included scaling up food and cash assistance, rehabilitating water sources as well as supporting seed, kitchen gardens and small scale irrigation. The county will also enhance livestock diseases surveillance and strengthen nutrition screening and reporting.

Kenya Meteorological Department will play a key role in the drought phase given expected interventions are anchored on technical advice from KMD. Some of its recommendations include planting drought tolerant crops and aligning crop growing period with local rainy period. 

The weatherman also said going forward residents should embrace dry planting for better yields especially doing the  weeks before the onset of rains.

"Dry planting should happen a week before onset. Wet planting based on weekly forecast. Plant only when weekly forecast predicts more than three days of up to 20 mm rainfall", the report reads in part. It was based on OND rainfall season review by the weatherman.

Dr Augustine Kanani closed the meeting by appreciating all stakeholders and partners for taking part in the CSG meeting and their continued support.