By Judith Akolo
The Kenya Meteorological Department is conducting Participatory Scenario Planning (PSP) workshops in the counties in the country to aid in a better understanding of the October, November to December seasonal climate forecast.
The workshops bring together stakeholders from government departments, development partners, farmers, pastoralist representatives, and community leaders to interpret the seasonal climate forecast and co-produce actionable advisories for decision-making.
The PSP which is supported by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry through the Drought Resilience for Smallholder Farmers and Pastoralists in the IGAD Region (DRESS-EA) project, aims to strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers and pastoralists to drought and other climate-related risks through enhanced early warning and preparedness.
The three-day workshop, seeks to generate joint advisories that will guide agricultural, water, health, and disaster management planning across Kitui County for the upcoming short rains season.
The DRESS-EA seeks to strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers and pastoralists by combining early warning systems with practical adaptation measures tailored to local realities.
The approach focuses on enhancing regional drought early warning mechanisms, building capacities at local, national and regional levels, enabling communities to adopt innovative adaptation practices, and promoting knowledge management and information sharing on drought resilience.
Among the expected outcomes include, “more effective use of early warning systems, stronger partnerships for coordinated drought management, wider access to innovative adaptation tools, and improved awareness and knowledge of climate risks,” says the statement and adds, “Together, these results aim to lay the foundation for collective, sustainable responses to the challenges of drought in the IGAD region.
Speaking at the Participatory Scenario Planning for Kitui County held at Nuu Technical Vocational College in Nuu Ward, Mwingi Central Sub-County, Kitui County.
Samuel Muchiri, the Coordinator of the DRESS-EA said that climate change continues to adversely affect pastoralists and farmers across the County.
He noted that the forecast for the October–December 2025 season indicates below-normal rainfall in the South Easter Lowlands in which Kitui County is located and called for proactive preparedness and adaptation measures.
“Climate change is real, and we must ensure that communities are well-prepared to cope with its impacts,” said Muchiri.
He added indigenous knowledge plays a vital role in complementing scientific research. The PSP process remains one of the most effective approaches for co-producing advisories that safeguard lives, property, and livelihoods.
He urged participants to make full use of the forecast information and seek guidance from the County Director of Meteorology to enhance productivity during the season.
David Adegu, Deputy Director at the Kenya Meteorological Department who represented the Director of Meteorological Services Edward Muchiri said that the PSPs are a core activity of the Kenya Meteorological Department, ensuring that seasonal forecasts are effectively communicated to the end users.
“The PSP process enables us to co-develop and co-produce sector-specific advisories for effective planning,” said Adegu and added, “It is critical that users actively participate in the discussions and that indigenous knowledge shared by farmers is well-documented to enrich future forecasting and planning.”
Daniel Mbithi, Kitui County Director of Meteorology warned that the county is to experience below average rainfall during the October to December short rains season, noting that the county is expected to experience a late onset to the short rains season, “poor distribution in time and space with cessation towards the end of December 2025.
Mbithi, urged users of weather and climate information in the County are encouraged to follow closely the climate updates provided by the County Meteorological Office for accurate and timely reports.