UK Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds announced Ksh 660 million in new funding for Kenya’s weather services, part of a larger Ksh 4.8 billion boost to the Africa Weather programme. The funding will help address climate hazards like droughts, floods, and storms, focusing on supporting communities, particularly women and girls.
The WISER programme, in partnership with the Kenya Meteorological Department and others, will improve early warning systems to reduce disaster impacts. This will help communities anticipate and respond to climate risks, reducing harm to lives and livelihoods.
Kenya recently faced severe droughts and floods, displacing thousands. The new funding aims to improve weather forecasting, enabling timely actions to protect communities from such extreme weather events in the future.
British High Commissioner Neil Wigan stressed the importance of weather services in helping communities prepare for severe weather. The WISER programme has already helped communities from Lake Victoria to Kibera better cope with extreme conditions.
The funding will enhance early warning systems in Kenya, helping institutions predict weather hazards and protect vulnerable communities. Previous phases of WISER saved lives and provided economic benefits, especially around Lake Victoria, and also supported marginalized urban communities with accessible weather information.
