Kenya had one of the worst droughts last year. Approximately 10 million people were facing critical food shortage, the country was rationing electricity and water, and the Kenya Wildlife Service was bulldozing dead animals out of Parks because it was unpleasant for tourists. Small businesses went under because they could not afford generators, tourism lodges laid off thousands of employees because of lack of occupancy, pastoralists moved and fought over grasslands for their livestock, and security issues increased as unemployed and hungry people turned to crime for money. Flying over the landscape during the drought the soils were cracked and hard panned, trees crispy, grass non-existent, and the river beds dry. People and wildlife suffered. The implications of drought are complex and impact every aspect of society: businesses; tourism; crops; electricity; health; and the environment.
When the rains came in April, everyone celebrated. Thank goodness—finally. The earth was in desperate need for water. However, the rains have been so severe, it is crippling the country. Traffic has come to a standstill. Crops washed away. Power is often out. Floods have blanketed the country, washing away people’s homes and even lodges. The massive amount of water accelerates the spread of disease, as hygiene becomes problematic. Like drought the implications of massive amounts of water all at once is complex and permeates all parts of society. Our house girl pays twice as much to get home because the traffic is so bad; therefore, public transport matatus and buses charge more. Young livestock cannot survive such wet climate, seeds are washed out of the fields, people are homeless and business suffers. The fact that Kenya has experienced such extremes within a six month period is staggering. As Kenya tries to get back on track after post election violence and its citizens strive to improve their lives, fighting against nature makes life even more challenging and is emblematic of what lies ahead for the world. Extremes.
