‘All we can do now is pray they continue’: Maasai welcome the first rains but know that drought is far from over
Why it matters: More than 2 million people in East Africa face a deepening crisis after four consecutive failed rainy seasons.
- Maasai elder Abraham Kampalei notes that while recent rains offer a glimmer of hope, the current drought feels particularly severe and long, having already lost 10 cows.
- Kenyan meteorologist Joyce Kimutai explains that the increased severity of drought in regions like Kajiado is due to the compounding impacts of drought and extreme heat, driven by La Niña and human influence, including greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels.
- Kenya’s National Drought Management Authority reports that 10 counties, including Kajiado (in the “alert” phase), are experiencing drought conditions, a widening net of climate stress historically less prone to such issues.
Despite recent rainfall, Maasai elder Abraham Kampalei and meteorologist Joyce Kimutai agree that Kenya's drought is far from over, with Kimutai attributing the intensifying severity to a combination of La Niña, extreme heat, and human-driven climate change. While Kampalei observes the devastating impact on livestock and communities, Kimutai warns of even harsher conditions in southern regions due to rising temperatures and anthropogenic factors like fossil fuel emissions.
