Employees in the Department of Meteorology can breathe easy after the National Assembly approved the Meteorology Bill (Senate Bill No. 45 of 2023).
- •The approved Bill creates the Kenya Meteorological Authority with a fully independent Board, replacing the current department.
- •According to the bill’s transition clauses, all staff will be automatically absorbed into the new Kenya Meteorological Authority without losing their jobs, benefits, or seniority.
- •The Department of Meteorology was established in 1977, after the collapse of the first East African Community and common services, as a unit under the Ministry of Power and Communications.
“The Bill ensures stability for employees while we modernize Kenya’s meteorological services,” lawmakers said, stressing that staff continuity is key to safeguarding weather and climate services across the country.
Under the transition clauses, every officer currently serving in the department will be transferred to the Authority on the same terms and conditions they enjoy today. Their pensions, accrued benefits, and rights remain fully protected, with no interruption in service.
Lawmakers amended Clause 7 to require the integration of traditional and indigenous knowledge into weather forecasting through participatory scenario planning, and compelled collaboration with the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) in developing early warning systems.
“This ensures the science of weather prediction does not ignore the centuries-old wisdom of local communities,” Vincent Musau, Chairman of the Environment Committee, said, pointing to indigenous forecasting practices among the Ogiek and Turkana.
Other key changes include aligning the Authority’s governance with the Mwongozo Code, adding agriculture representation to the Board, and allowing the co-option of experts in indigenous knowledge as advisors.
On property rights, Clause 38 now requires written consent from landowners before meteorological equipment such as observation masts can be installed, alongside provisions for compensation and dispute resolution.
Once enacted, the Meteorology Bill is expected to strengthen Kenya’s capacity to predict weather, mitigate climate risks, and support aviation safety all while safeguarding jobs, respecting cultural heritage, and protecting community rights.
