County Director of Meteorological Services, Taita Taveta County Geofrey Mwongela, has issued an urgent call to county residents to begin early preparations to mitigate the potential impacts of the upcoming El Niño rains.
Speaking on the weather outlook, Mwongela advised citizens especially those living in flood prone areas to start digging drainage channels to prevent the destruction of property and the environment.
The director noted that the current cold season is the ideal time for farmers to prepare their land and repair infrastructure for harvesting and storing rainwater before the rainy season begins.
At the same time, the department issued a stern warning to miners in the county to exercise extreme caution when carrying out their duties during the rainy season, citing the high risk of mine collapses.
A similar warning was extended to residents living in hilly areas and steep slopes prone to landslides, urging them to relocate to safer grounds early.
Highlighting the challenge of low awareness within the community, Mwongela called on the government to intervene and support his department in public sensitization campaigns.
He emphasized that a large number of residents still lack adequate knowledge and basic instructions regarding seasonal rainfall shifts and how to protect themselves.
