Africa seems poorly equipped to handle climate change, and this is very concerning. As the climate (IPCC) report predicted, an increase in extreme weather is a consequence of the warming atmosphere. Despite the fact that multiple rainy seasons per year are common, the situation is becoming increasingly extreme due to climate changes...
Back in April this year: heavy rain and massive downpours pouring from the sky. Kenya is flooded… not only literally, but also figuratively. Hotels close, and tourists are stranded. In some places, even cholera breaks out. In the cities, traffic is total chaos: Nairobi, already not known for its smooth infrastructure, is completely gridlocked. It becomes even more problematic because Kenya lacks proper sewage, drainage, or dams… So when the rain falls, it falls, and there’s nowhere for it to go.
Increasingly extreme: climate change in Kenya
The climate in Africa is becoming increasingly extreme. A year before these floods, there were desperate pleas and prayers for water. Due to both the growing population and increasing water demand, the situation is becoming more complex. After a long period of extreme drought, the rain was a true relief. Livestock could survive, and forests began to grow again. But just a year later, suddenly an overwhelming amount of rain falls, with nowhere for it to go. Due to increasing deforestation, vegetation in Kenya has decreased from 40% to 5%, leading to more hardened surfaces. This soil struggles to absorb water, and during long periods of drought, water sources eventually run dry. You can see how climate change is making survival in these conditions more difficult. In the past, a Masai warrior could predict when the rainy season would begin, but unpredictable weather now brings constant surprises. This unpredictability is dangerous, and it also impacts the wildlife in Kenya. The famous 'Great Migration', the annual wildebeest migration that occurs in August and September in Kenya, has also been significantly affected by the changing climate. It's becoming increasingly difficult to link a specific pattern or season to the migration, which, of course, indirectly affects the tourism industry, as countless travelers come to Kenya to witness this magnificent spectacle.