Finally, The Rains are Here. But What Have We Learnt So Far?
Cold and Wet
Today was a particularly cold day. And a wet one too. That is what makes it different from the recent past.
Lately, it’s been all dusty and really hot. The Meteorological Department has predicted El Nino rains in coming months. Where I live, it was all dull and foggy today.
The last time these rains pounded our country, it was all chaos. People and animals drowned, property was damaged and it took years to repair the road network. In this regard, we are guilty as charged in failing to prepare for such disasters.
Water Harvesting
Speaking of lack of preparedness, this country is still suffering from a water shortage, which has resulted in scheduled water rationing in Nairobi and other urban areas. The question that begs asking is this: “Are we ready to harvest any of the rain water, or we’ll let it all drain to the oceans, carrying with it all our top soil?”
On July 14, Mike Fairhead wrote in the Daily Nation that water harvesting is the only way out. Unfortunately, some archaic colonial laws that the City Council of Nairobi adopted prohibit water harvesting for Nairobi residents. Almost half a decade later, no effort has been made to rectify this situation.
What to Do
The onus is upon those of us who can collect rain water to do so.
Elsewhere in Green Kenya, there is a post on local solutions for Harvesting Rain Water for Irrigation. In lieu of such cautionary measures, perhaps the eventual insufficient rain, lack of pasture, water and poor crop yields will bring us back to sanity.
Learn, live and do the needful once the rain starts falling.
