Environment Committee briefed on the Meteorology Bill (Senate Bill No. 45 of 2023) as members question reasons behind it

Environment Committee briefed on the Meteorology Bill (Senate Bill No. 45 of 2023) as members question reasons behind it

𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲, 𝐁𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫.
𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟓𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓.

Members of the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Environment Forestry and Mining have questioned the need for the establishment of the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority at the time when the country's leadership is engaged in reducing public institutions like the recent dissolution of the Kenya Water Towers Agency (KWTA) in the Environment sector. 

In a meeting chaired by the Committee's Vice Chairperson Hon. Charles Kamuren (Baringo South), the MPs have called on the Committee secretariat to make arrangements for a consultative sitting with the Kenya Meteorological Department together with the PS in the State Department of Environment and Climate Change over the need to establish the Authority. 

"Hon. Members, the concerns you are raising here are important, Hon. Beatrice Kemei has questioned the need to establish the Authority when we already have the Meteorological Department in the Country, I therefore want to request that we have a sitting with the concerned stakeholders to interact and talk out all the concerns raised in this sitting. We need to be told the essence of having this Authority when we already have the Kenya Meteorological Department", Hon. Kamuren pronounced himself. 

"We can also encourage the Meteorological Department to widen their scope, capacity and logistical means because I believe they have the capacity to achieve what we are looking for", he added. 

Hon. Joseph Emathe (Turkana Central) underscored the need to integrate the contents of the Bill with the traditional ways of weather prediction - early warning systems (EWS). His sentiments were supported by Hon. Onesmus Ngogoyo (Kajiado North). 

"The Bill needs to be enriched in an engagement with concerned departments, we have communities who still use traditional ways of weather prediction for early warnings, this will help address the challenges especially meteorological shortcomings on weather prediction", said Hon. Emathe. 

Hon. Ngogoyo while making his imput questioned the need to have the board of management comprising of only degree holders. He requested that the provision be struck off and only reserved for chairperson and other professional offices if the Authority will come to life. He further said this will give youths a room to serve. 

The Bill is sponsored by the Senate Majority Leader Hon. Aron. Cheruiyot. Its principal objective is to provide a legal framework for the establishment of the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority, regulation, co-ordination, monitoring, management, provision and Control of meteorological services and for connected purposes.