Africa has the world's least developed weather observation network, according to the World Economic Forum. Inaccurate forecasts can impact farming. But by observing nature, a rural community in western Kenya can make precise weather predictions.
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00:00When Ruben Asitwa wants the weather focus for Nganyi, he consults the local forest.
00:05If he sees ants scurrying around, building a new nest somewhere, he predicts that heavy rain is coming.
00:12He is one of the traditional rainmakers who observes the behavior of plants and insects.
00:18When trees have flowers but no leaves, for example, then they don't expect any rain.
00:25The Nganyi forest in western Kenya lies in one of the country's most densely populated areas.
00:31It's small but rich in biodiversity and includes some of Kenya's oldest trees.
00:39The rainmakers have passed their knowledge down from generation to generation,
00:43including the art of predicting local weather patterns.
00:46Boniface Omena climbs to the treetops to get a clearer feel for the atmospheric currents.
00:55If the wind is coming from the west going to the east, that means that we are going to have rain.
01:03And if it is coming from the east going west, then that means no rain.
01:12Local meteorologists respect the traditional rainmakers of Nganyi.
01:16They themselves use modern tools to track the wind, humidity and rain.
01:22The scientists and rainmakers have been working together and swapping results for around 10 years now,
01:28especially during the rainy seasons.
01:30And the rainmakers' local forecasts are often extremely accurate.
01:37We have to get access to the two forecasts and then we try to interpret the two forecasts.
01:43The scientific forecast and then the traditional forecast.
01:49We interrogate those forecasts and then we come up with one consensus forecast.
01:56So that's the area of collaboration when it comes to seasonal forecasts.
02:00These joint weather reports are broadcast on a radio station in Nganyi.
02:04It was set up by the meteorological service to provide farmers with vital information.
02:10Host Isaac Okote sometimes invites rainmaker Boniface Omena onto the show to share his tips and insights.
02:21For example, farmers have been advised to visit agricultural officers to give them advice
02:31and to give them provisional crops that they can plant or cultivate during this particular rain season according to the weather forecast.
02:42Farmer Ruth Owano tunes in every morning to catch the weather service.
02:46She knows one intense downpour can ruin her family's livelihood.
02:50In 2023 alone, heavy rainfall destroyed nearly 7,000 hectares of farmland across Kenya,
02:56about 9,500 soccer fields.
02:59And as downpours become more common, focus are more important than ever.
03:09The Nganyi elders have told us there will be rainfall next week so we need to harvest our beans before then.
03:19The traditional rainmakers also have a shrine in the forest.
03:24This tree has been here for almost 20 years before it started rotting, so we've moved the shrine to the other side.
03:37The rainmakers also have a reputation for influencing the weather.
03:41To make rain, for example, they perform special rituals at the shrine.
03:45As an exception, Ruben Asitwa demonstrates in daylight what is normally only done in the peace of night.
03:54I blow until the wind starts coming.
03:58If I feel some light winds, I will know that it is working.
04:02If I don't feel the winds, I will not leave this place until 7 in the morning.
04:07If I start at 2 a.m., the winds come by 3.45 and by 4 a.m. there is wind all over.
04:15For the rainmakers, that is the sign that rain is coming.
04:19Scientifically, this has not been proven.
04:22However, although they have different methods, rainmakers and meteorologists in these parts of Kenya are working together for the benefit of the community.