Kenya has taken a major step toward strengthening its climate and weather prediction systems after President William Ruto assented to the Kenya Meteorology Bill, 2023, paving the way for the creation of the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority (KMSA).
The landmark legislation transforms the long-standing Kenya Meteorological Department into a semi-autonomous government agency with an expanded mandate to regulate, coordinate, and deliver meteorological and climate services across the country.
Speaking on the development, Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Engineer Festus Ng’eno, described the assent as a major milestone in strengthening Kenya’s climate information systems and improving early warning capabilities.
“Today marks a significant milestone in strengthening Kenya’s climate and weather services,” Ng’eno said. “The President’s assent to the Meteorology Bill heralds a new era for meteorological services in Kenya and establishes a strong institutional framework for climate and weather prediction.”
Strengthening early warning systems
With climate extremes such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves becoming more frequent across East Africa, the government says the new authority will play a critical role in strengthening early warning systems and supporting climate-sensitive sectors.
According to PS Ng’eno, the creation of the authority will enhance the delivery of climate information needed for evidence-based decision-making across sectors, including agriculture, aviation, water resources, and disaster risk management.
“The Authority will strengthen early warning systems, enhance climate information for evidence-based decision making, and support climate-sensitive sectors including agriculture, aviation, water resources, and disaster risk management,” he said.
The reform also aligns Kenya with global climate service frameworks under the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Ng’eno noted that the new institutional arrangement will enable Kenya to meet its obligations under the WMO Convention while strengthening leadership in the operationalization of national climate service frameworks.
“The establishment of the Authority will strengthen Kenya’s capacity to meet its obligations under the World Meteorological Organization Convention and provide institutional leadership for the operationalization of the National Framework for Climate Services,” Ng’eno added.
The move also supports the implementation of the global Early Warnings for All Initiative, which seeks to ensure that every person on Earth is protected by early warning systems against hazardous weather and climate events.
New funding model for meteorological services
Beyond institutional restructuring, the new law introduces a diversified financing framework designed to improve the sustainability of meteorological services in the country, with the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority in place.
Under the new structure, the authority will draw funding from parliamentary appropriations, service fees, grants, partnerships, and proceeds from the Air Passenger Service Charge.
Ng’eno said the financing model is intended to strengthen the authority’s independence and support innovation in climate service delivery.
“The new institutional framework strengthens the Authority’s financial sustainability by diversifying revenue streams, including parliamentary appropriations, service fees, grants, and partnerships, enhancing independence and reducing reliance on the exchequer,” he explained.
A key provision of the law amends the Air Passenger Service Charge to include the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority as a statutory beneficiary.
The authority now joins the Kenya Airports Authority, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, and the Tourism Promotion Fund as recipients of the aviation-related charge.
According to the Environment Ministry, this will provide a stable and dedicated funding stream to support aviation meteorology, infrastructure upgrades, and enhanced climate services.
“This secures stable resources for aviation meteorology, infrastructure upgrades, and climate services, aligning the Authority with other aviation-critical bodies and reinforcing national safety, climate resilience, and compliance with global standards,” Ng’eno noted.
Building climate resilience
Kenya has increasingly invested in climate information services as extreme weather events intensify across the region, affecting livelihoods, infrastructure, and national development.
The establishment of the new authority is expected to improve coordination of weather data, forecasting services, and climate information dissemination, particularly for communities and sectors highly exposed to climate risks.
Ng’eno congratulated the staff of the Kenya Meteorological Department and its partners for their role in achieving the milestone.
“I congratulate the Kenya Meteorological Department team, partners, and stakeholders for their dedication and collaboration in achieving this significant milestone in meteorological services,” he said.
With the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority in place, Kenya is expected to enhance its capacity to generate reliable climate intelligence, a crucial tool for planning, disaster preparedness, and building resilience in an era of increasing climate uncertainty.
