President William Ruto has signed the Meteorology Bill into law paving way for the transformation of the Kenya Meteorological Department into the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority.The new law is expected to strengthen weather and climate services in Kenya by creating an independent authority responsible for coordinating and delivering meteorological services across the country.
How Kenya Meteorological Department Will Strengthen Early Warning Systems and Climate Services
Once operational, the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority will improve the availability of accurate and timely weather and climate information. The information will help key sectors such as agriculture, aviation, water resource management and disaster preparedness make better decisions.Environment and Climate Change Principal Secretary Festus K. Ng’eno said the transition will help Kenya strengthen its early warning systems and respond more effectively to climate-related disasters such as floods, droughts and severe storms.
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Kenya Meteorological Department Aligns with Global Meteorological Standards
The move also aligns Kenya with global best practices in meteorological governance and supports international initiatives like the World Meteorological Organization’s Early Warnings for All programme.The new authority will provide a stronger institutional framework for delivering reliable weather forecasts, climate data and advisory services that are critical for protecting lives, safeguarding infrastructure and supporting climate-resilient development.
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Stakeholders in the climate and environmental sectors have welcomed the development, saying the authority will improve coordination of meteorological services and strengthen Kenya’s role as a regional leader in climate information services.
