•Dr David Gikungu, in a five day-forecast that ends on Monday, noted there’s a chance of light showers in Ukambani, Nairobi and Central Kenya on Friday and Saturday.
•While El Niño is characterized by above average rains in Kenya, La Niña is a climate pattern that tends to occur soon after El Niño and brings on opposite, dry effects.
Image: File
Most parts of the country are expected to be sunny and dry heading to next week, as the El Nino weather pattern continues to decay.
The Meteorological department said only a few areas are likely to receive some little rain. Most parts of the country, except, northern Kenya, will remain dry.
Dr David Gikungu, in a five day-forecast that ends on Monday, said there is a chance of light showers in Ukambani, Nairobi and Central Kenya on Friday and Saturday.
“A few areas in South Rift Valley, Lake Victoria Basin, Highlands East and West of Rift Valley, South-eastern lowlands, Coast and Northeastern Kenya are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall,” he said.
Areas around Lake Victoria could also have showers in the afternoon and night.
The light rains and cloudy conditions are a result of the El Nino conditions.
However, weather experts around the world have said the current El Nino is already decaying and may transition to a weak La Nina in the second half of 2024.
While El Niño is characterised by above-average rains in Kenya, La Niña is a climate pattern that tends to occur soon after El Niño and brings on opposite dry effects.
The US Climate Prediction Center said although El Nino, which influences weather around the world, is losing its strength, it will continue to have an impact on the weather in the coming months.
The current weather conditions are favourable for the development of aflatoxin, which causes kidney problems.
Last week, the Kenyan government launched two industrial mycotoxin decontamination plants that will help reduce aflatoxin contamination in grains like maize and pulses.
Agriculture PS Paul Rono said the mycotoxin decontamination solution is an ozone-based post-harvest industrial plant, that will eliminate at least 95 per cent of aflatoxin contamination in grains.
“This industrial plant solution will eliminate 95 per cent of aflatoxin contamination in grains, pulses, nuts and other food commodities. It will highly boost food security programme in the country," he said in a statement to newsrooms.
Aflatoxins are naturally occurring toxic substances found in maize, groundnuts and other crops.
In April 2004, one of the largest aflatoxicosis outbreaks occurred in rural Kenya, resulting in 317 cases and 125 deaths.
The two industrial mycotoxin decontamination plants were donated by Trademark Africa cooperation through Global Affairs Canada funding.
The Trademark Africa cooperation donated them to the Ministry of Agriculture as an aid for trade intervention through technical assistance.
He said the plants have been installed at the National Cereals and Produce Board warehouses in Bungoma and Nairobi counties.
“Each plant has the capacity of processing at least 10 tonnes per day from a range of commodities with a focus on grains affected by mycotoxin," he said.
The PS also said in this year's cropping season, the fertiliser subsidy programme will be enhanced more than what was disbursed last year.
"Farmers should explore this opportunity on their farm produce because 182,880 bags of fertiliser will be allocated to the county," he said.
The government is planning to increase the number of transporters to 1,000 in the next two months for easy delivery of fertiliser to grassroots.
"We want the fertiliser to reach farmers on time during the cropping season that is why we will increase the transporters for better distribution," the PS said.
His sentiments were echoed by Bungoma deputy governor Janepher Mbatiany who said last year, farmers from the area managed to put 101,460 hectares of maize and got a high production during harvest of 3,481,000 bags of 90kg.
"That is a clear indication that we are bolstering food safety and security programme for a great future and with this mycotoxin plant, next production will be higher than this," she said.
Eastern Africa Grain Council Executive director Gerald Masila said they partnered with Trade Mark Africa to explore possibilities of bringing the technology from the lab to the land with support from the Canadian government and in partnership with the Kenyan one.
“This innovation, when scaled, and utilised widely, will go a long way in addressing the food safety challenge and enhance public health, while reducing the economic costs of losses incurred by farmers, when their grains are not meeting the quality and safety standards,” he said.
Masila said they are committed to ensuring only quality and safe grain is produced, traded, processed and distributed for consumption.
Deputy government spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga encouraged farmers to effectively utilise opportunities created by the government to enhance food productivity.
"There are many opportunities that can be created through food productivity. There is job creation, health and nutrition opportunities as well as food security. Let us embrace these programmes from the government," she said.
Pan Africa Regional Development executive director Marcia Colquhuom said farmers in Kenya needed a solution to mycotoxin management for agriculture to boost food security.
"The two plants are a solution to the mycotoxin contamination of grains and I assure the ministry that this will make agriculture prosper and boost food security in the country," she said.