Gesare Okemwa was born in the 1920s. She says that she doesn't need scientific explanations to concur that climate change is here. To her observation and comparison of rainfall patterns, humidity variations, temperature fluctuations, and wind flow changes over the years remain to be her best weather instrument.
Gesare says that African Communities had their innate approach of naming seasons. For the Kisii’s the twelve months of the year were named from the prevailing climate changes: Rain patterns, migration of birds (animals), shedding of leaves and flowering of (some) plants, presence of dew and cloud formation, patterns and movement of stars and the sounds and carols of animals and birds.
She says that naming of months was based on climate condition and how the prevailing conditions affected live-hood of a given people. Example, Emwani ne Enkoromoni Ka abanchi Baregana, translated: May and June is asunder to friendly relations, the Kisii say goes. The month of November was named as Monungu no barema, a time when farmers were expected to embark in preparation of the soil for planting. The month of march Riete, while April, Amaumuntia (Cloudy and rainy). All these tell us the type of season that was expected then. “This held true for so many years till the recent past when their naming began to be overtaken by events,” she points out.
Her explanations is a testimony that rains patterns have changed. Some species of birds have disappeared. Several water springs have dried up. Water volume in our rivers has drastically gone down albeit ocean level raising gradually. Temperatures increasing drastically. Lots of plant species cannot be traced. Swamps (natural water reservoirs) have been turned into farms.
According to the Global Greenhouse Warming.com, global temperature is forecast to raise by 4 degree Celsius toward the end of 21st century; and the 2007 Fourth Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Pannel on Climate Change (IPCC) reveals that global temperature has increased by 1.02 degree Celsius during the 20th century.
“We were not exposed to extreme temperatures as it is today,” Pius Obare who is 90 plus-years-old narrates. “At times it's too cold, at times it's too hot,” he compares. Adding that Kisii highlands were doted with springs and rivers teeming with fresh-drinking-water. Water borne related diseases were unheard of. “Nowadays you have to walk long distances to access water, and most of it is not safe for drinking.”
Statistics from the United nations Development Program (UNDP) agrees with Obare's observation as they point out that adequate water is becoming scarce. More than 2.5 billion people and almost 1 billion children worldwide live today without any basic sanitation.
Kenyan scientist too says that water table is declining at an alarming late. Example, Nairobi water table is decreasing in 3 meters per year, says Prof. Shem Wandiga, the Chairman of the Kenya Chemical Societies cum chemistry don at the University of Nairobi. He adds that about 60 per cent of Kenyan patients are suffering from water related diseases.
Mzee Obare says that he is disappointed with the extinction of several birds and plant spices that were everywhere when they were growing up. A paper titled Woody plants and the prediction of climate-change impact on bird diversity points out that there is decrease in bird spices richness from climate change across the country. About one-fifth of the bird spices are migrating on a seasonal basis within Africa and one-tenth are migrating between Africa and the rest of the world, World Wild Life journal says.
From the uneven rainfall patterns developing counties like Kenya are feeling the full blunt of food scarcity. Dr. Akin Adesina, Vice President of policy and partnership Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) says that 70 per cent of Africans gain their live-hood through farming. Notwithstanding that Africa only contribute to less than 3 per cent of the global greenhouse emissions it's the most affected continent from climate change. Adesina points out that it is expected that 250 million people are subjected to increased risks of droughts across the continent. “Africa’s small scale farmers are in the eye of the climate change storm.”
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