- They include the historic Kishenyi dam, Kighombo dam, Mwatate earth dam and Voi river among others.
- The onset of rainfall is expected in the second week of November.
Image: SOLOMON MUINGI
The prolonged drought has dried up key open water sources in Taita Taveta county, posing a threat to livestock and mankind.
The region has experienced four consecutive failed seasons, exposing residents to acute hunger and loss of livestock.
Key among the water sources drying up due to the effects of climate change are catchments, seasonal rivers, pans and dams, especially in the lowland areas of Voi, Mwatate and Taveta subcounties.
They include the historic Kishenyi dam, Kighombo dam, Mwatate earth dam and Voi river among others.
Cromwell Mombo, a vegetable farmer at Werugha, has watched with disbelief as water levels sank low in Kishenyi dam; a water source that has supplied water to more than 15,000 farmers in Wundanyi and the lowlands.
“It is the first time that water has dried in the dam. This is an indication that climate change is ruthlessly taking control,” Mombo told the Star in an interview.
Occupying a 30-acre piece of land, the dam has now been left a shell of its former self with tens of farmers cultivating on the dried-up dam bed.
Mombo also attributes the drying up to the encroachment by farmers who have now moved their farms close to the dam bed.
“There is a lot of destruction on the dam and that has also contributed to the drying up of the once overflowing water source,” he said.
The little remaining water in the dam has also been exposed to a possible cause of the continuous growth of algae due to agricultural activities.
According to the National Drought Management Authority livestock keepers in lowlands have recorded poor cattle body condition as a result of minimal pasture and scarce drinking water.
“These areas are deemed to be hotspots in that cattle deaths were reported from the beginning of September. Little or lack of off-season rains also worsened the pasture and water stress,” NDMA drought early warning bulletin for September reads.
The authority said more deaths of livestock are expected in the month of October, further proposing for provision of livestock feeds to sustain the animal health until the onset of rains expected in mid-November.
The biting drought has further triggered human-wildlife conflict cases as animals from Tsavo East and West national parks cross over to the communities in search of water and pasture.
According to the Meteorological Department, the onset of rainfall is expected in the second week of November and ends from 18 to 31 December 2022.
Delay in the onset of the October-November-December rain season in many parts of the country indicates the current drought may continue.
The weatherman has projected depressed rainfall during the OND season in Taita Taveta.
The Met county director Robinson Asira said most parts of the country are likely to experience below-average rainfall thus hindering crop production.
Rainfall distribution, Asira said, is likely to be poor both in time and space. There might be a dry spell within the season after the onset.
He advised farmers to buy drought-tolerant certified seeds and fertilisers from accredited Agro dealers before the rainfall onset.
“Farmers should opt for drought-tolerant crops since there is the likelihood of inadequate rainfall. Overstocking should be discouraged to reduce the loss of livestock,” Asira said.
Asira said parts of Voi, Mwatate and Taveta subcounties are likely to receive between 100 and 300mm of rainfall while the hilly parts of Wundanyi are likely to receive between 200 and 330 mm of rainfall within the season.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)