The Kenya Meteorological Department (Met) has been accused of providing inaccurate weather forecast information to help people make important decisions.
Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu warned that the department has to replace its antiquated technology.
In her report to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, she noted that the “outdated equipment and technology”, at the Dagoretti Corner Station in November, last year, revealed, among others, that the automatic rain gauge and sunshine recorder were not functional.
“It was not clear how the department captures data for the affected parameters for the station’s reporting area. Further, the audit revealed that the department has not fully installed modern digital equipment and technology and relies on old manual systems for weather reporting,” the auditor stated.
According to Gathungu’s assessment, despite the weatherman’s reliance on antiquated technology, Sh47 million worth of digital equipment that could support its work has been dormant in its stores.
She pointed out that employing outdated technology may have an impact on data reliability, data capture processes and the time it takes to relay weather forecasts.
“The management should consider overhauling the existing manual technology system and replace it with digital technology so as to enhance reliability and effectiveness of the processes of monitoring, capturing and timely dissemination of weather forecasts to stakeholders,” the Auditor-General observed.
While the ministry had contracted a company to supply, deliver, test and commission digital weather instruments, including 60 digital barometers, thermometers and humidity sensors, 60 digital weather monitoring and display processing systems, and three rugged laptops, she noted that they had never been used during the physical verification exercise by November.
They were delivered in April 2021 and stored in the stores since then.
“Information available indicates that the delay is due to lack of power UPS which must be installed alongside the equipment.
It was not clearly explained why the procurement omitted such an essential component for the installation.
Consequently, the value for money from the payment of Sh47 million could not be confirmed,” the report stated.
One of the weather forecasts released for public consumption on the department’s website yesterday predicted how things will be between March 15 and 21.
Rainfall was forecast for the Highlands West of the Rift Valley, as well as a few spots in the Highlands East of the Rift Valley and the South-eastern lowlands, according to the seven-day forecast.
“The rest of the country is likely to be mainly sunny and dry. Daytime (maximum) temperatures are likely to be generally high. Night time (minimum) temperatures are likely to be low over high-altitude areas,” the weather forecast noted.