Climate Change in Kenya
The Republic of Kenya is located in East Africa, bordered by Ethiopia to the North, Uganda to the West, Tanzania to the South, Somalia to the east, South Sudan to the northwest and the Indian Ocean to the southeast. At 580,367 km2 Kenya is the world's 47th-largest country and is home to approximately 50 million people.
Kenya relies heavily on her land. The Kenyan highlands are home to the majority of the country’s population (78%) and are one of the most successful agricultural production regions on the African continent. Its tourism industry is based on the country’s many wildlife conservancies and renowned Indian Ocean beaches.
Today, Kenya experiences annual mean temperatures mean temperature of 24.3 degrees celsius and received approx 670mm of rainfall per year. Since the 1960’s temperatures have increased by one degree, and a distinct warming trend is evident. Over the same timeframe, Northern areas that have been historically drier are receiving more rainfall, and southern historically wetter areas are becoming drier. Extreme flooding is more frequent and intense in some parts of the country and in others, rainfall has become infrequent and unpredictable.
Kenya is highly exposed to natural hazards, the most common being droughts and floods; approximately 70% of which are attributable to climate change.
