Climate Change in Kenya
Kenya has published its first National Communication on Climate Change to
 UNFCCC. Scientific research on the impacts of climate change is being conducted
by the Coffee Research Foundation and by the
Kenyan Meteorological Department, the
Kenyan Agriculture Research Institute (KARI) and the
University of Nairobi.
Main impacts of climate change:
Kenya's climate varies from tropical along the coast to arid in the interior, especially in the North and
Northeast. In Central and Western Kenya, temperature increases would result in an extension of the land
available for cultivation because some higher-elevation areas would become suitable for cropping. On the
other hand rising temperatures and increased plant water requirements would lead to dramatic reductions in
the potential agricultural production, primarily in the coastal area and the north-eastern province (tea
production area).
- Intermittent droughts affect most of the country.
- Due to increased warming, arid areas will expand, and this is likely to affect areas currently suitable
for coffee and tea cultivation. This means that communities already earning their livelihoods from tea and
coffee face serious threats as their source of livelihood will be disrupted.
- The reduction of forest areas and water catchments as a result of climate change and other human
activities will lead to increased conflict among pastoralist and farming communities as they compete for
diminishing natural resources such as water and land.
- Deforestation is also caused by the tea industry where firewood is being used to heat boilers drying tea.
- Due to diminishing glaciers on Mt. Kenya, 26 rivers that flow downstream, and which feed the river Tana
have already dried up.
- Due to temperature increases, higher altitude areas such as Kisii and Mt. Kenya, experience increasing
malaria incidences at a rate that has never been observed. Increased flooding, as has been observed in
Budalang'i and other flood-prone areas, will increase the incidences of water-borne diseases like cholera
and bilharzias'.
Tea production
Together with China, India and Sri Lanka, Kenya is one of the largest producers and exporters of tea worldwide.
Tea is the third foreign exchange earner after horticulture and tourism and about 10% of the Kenyan population
is employed in the tea industry.
Cafédirect buys coffee from Kiegoi and Michimikuru tea factories. They are part of the
Kenyan Tea Development Agency Ltd. (KTDA), the managing agent of almost 60 tea companies
in Kenya. Michimikuru will participate in the first risk and opportunity assessments.
The results of a survey with the producers show a strong need for support in adaptation to climate change. In
Kenya, adaptation means water management and soil amelioration. AdapCC will also support producers in developing
meteorological monitoring systems, help to introduce renewable energy sources to combat deforestation and in
creating awareness and knowledge on issues of climate change.
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