Kenya’s 2025 harvest season has unfolded under conditions that farmers, scientists, and policymakers have long warned about: erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, flash floods in some regions, and rising temperatures.
While the calendar year is new, the challenges facing farmers are not. They reflect decades of climate shifts that have changed how Kenyans plant, grow, and harvest food.Across the country, the 2025 harvest has become a mirror of existing realities, showing how increasingly unpredictable weather is forcing farmers to adapt, sometimes painfully, to new agricultural norms.
Late rains and uneven distribution.
For more than a decade, the Kenya Meteorological Department has documented changes in the timing and intensity of rainfall. The long rains (March–May) and the short rains (October–December) no longer follow predictable patterns.
In 2025, this long-established trend again shaped harvest results. Many farmers in the highlands, particularly in counties such as Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Nyandarua, and parts of Kiambu, reported delayed onset of the long rains.
For maize growers, timing is crucial, and planting schedules built around historical rainfall patterns failed them once more.
“We planted waiting for March rains that did not arrive. By the time the rains came, our seed had already struggled in dry soil,” a maize farmer said.
This pattern is familiar: late rains reduce germination rates, stunt early root development, and shorten crop maturity periods.
Scientific studies show that maize yield declines sharply when rains delay beyond mid-March. In 2025, these conditions repeated themselves.
By contrast, parts of western Kenya, including Kakamega and Busia, experienced intense rainfall bursts once the rainy season began. These rains did not compensate for early dryness; instead, they brought another set of challenges.
In March 2025, the Kenya Meteorological Department confirmed that the March–April–May long rains had begun in parts of the country.
On defining the onset of the rains, the department explained that it was characterised by a wet spell with at least 20mm of rainfall over three consecutive days and no dry spell of at least seven days within the following 21 days.
The department reported that it confirmed the onset of the rains between March 10 and March 16 in the Highlands West of Rift Valley, Lake Victoria Basin, Rift Valley, Nairobi, and parts of the Highlands East of the Rift Valley, Southeastern Lowlands, and parts of Isiolo County.
It further observed that rainfall increased compared to March 3 to March 9, especially in the Southeastern Lowlands and parts of Northeastern Kenya.
Rising temperatures deepen crop stress.
In 2025, this long-established trend again shaped harvest results. Many farmers in the highlands, particularly in counties such as Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Nyandarua, and parts of Kiambu, reported delayed onset of the long rains.
For maize growers, timing is crucial, and planting schedules built around historical rainfall patterns failed them once more.
“We planted waiting for March rains that did not arrive. By the time the rains came, our seed had already struggled in dry soil,” a maize farmer said.
This pattern is familiar: late rains reduce germination rates, stunt early root development, and shorten crop maturity periods.
Scientific studies show that maize yield declines sharply when rains delay beyond mid-March. In 2025, these conditions repeated themselves.
By contrast, parts of western Kenya, including Kakamega and Busia, experienced intense rainfall bursts once the rainy season began. These rains did not compensate for early dryness; instead, they brought another set of challenges.
In March 2025, the Kenya Meteorological Department confirmed that the March–April–May long rains had begun in parts of the country.
On defining the onset of the rains, the department explained that it was characterised by a wet spell with at least 20mm of rainfall over three consecutive days and no dry spell of at least seven days within the following 21 days.
The department reported that it confirmed the onset of the rains between March 10 and March 16 in the Highlands West of Rift Valley, Lake Victoria Basin, Rift Valley, Nairobi, and parts of the Highlands East of the Rift Valley, Southeastern Lowlands, and parts of Isiolo County.
It further observed that rainfall increased compared to March 3 to March 9, especially in the Southeastern Lowlands and parts of Northeastern Kenya.
Rising temperatures deepen crop stress.
One of the most well-documented impacts of climate change in East Africa is the steady rise in temperatures.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that eastern Africa warmed by more than 0.7°C since the 1980s, and Kenya has experienced notable increases in surface temperatures, especially in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs).
In 2025, farmers across much of the Rift Valley, Eastern, and Coastal regions felt this heat more acutely. Higher temperatures accelerated evaporation, dried out soils faster, stressed plants, interfered with pollination, and increased pest pressure.
Maize is particularly vulnerable: temperatures above 30°C during flowering reduce kernel formation and overall yield. “It became too hot for maize. Even when rains come, the heat dries the ground,” a farmer in Machakos who switched part of his farm to pigeon peas and sorghum said.
These conditions have contributed to a gradual regional shift from maize toward more heat-tolerant crops such as sorghum, millet, and cowpeas, a trend that continued in 2025.
Flooding in some regions
While some counties battled drought and heat, others faced the opposite problem.
Along the lower Tana Basin, parts of Garissa, Tana River, and Lamu, and sections of western Kenya, heavy rains earlier in the year caused flash floods.
The early onset of the March–April–May long rains in 2025 triggered widespread flooding across several parts of Kenya, causing significant disruptions to farming activities.
The Kenya Meteorological Department had confirmed the start of the rains in March, noting that rainfall was expected to continue over several parts of the country.
This was with isolated heavy rainfall events, particularly over the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, including Nairobi County, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, the Southeastern lowlands, and Northeastern Kenya.
The intense downpours led to rivers overflowing and waterlogging vast tracts of farmland in low-lying areas. Crops such as maize, beans, and vegetables were submerged, with some farmers reporting total losses.
Livestock farmers were also affected, as grazing lands were flooded and water sources contaminated. Small-scale farmers, in particular, faced delays in planting schedules, with waterlogged fields hampering normal agricultural activities.
In addition to immediate crop losses, the heavy rains caused soil erosion and damaged key infrastructure, including farm access roads and irrigation channels, making recovery more challenging.
Agricultural officers urged farmers to take precautions and implement measures to protect crops and livestock.
These floods washed away soil nutrients, uprooted crops, destroyed farmland, and disrupted planting schedules.
“When the Tana overflows, it takes everything. We spent months preparing our land, only for the water to sweep the fields,” a farmer said in April.
Flooding has become more frequent because of climate change, which increases the intensity of rainfall events.
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry repeatedly warned that Kenya will face more extreme rainfall episodes as global temperatures rise.
Pests and diseases
Another consequence of warming temperatures and changing rainfall patterns is the increased spread of pests and diseases.
Fall armyworm, which first appeared in Kenya in 2016, remains a recurring menace. Research shows that warmer conditions and intermittent rains provide ideal breeding environments for the pest.
Reports from Nyeri, Bungoma, and parts of Meru indicated localized outbreaks in early 2025.
Additionally, fungal diseases such as maize lethal necrosis and aflatoxin-producing molds thrive in times of alternating drought and humidity.
A crop scientist from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) noted:
“Climate variability has created perfect conditions for pests and diseases to flourish. Every year, farmers face new combinations of stress.” These biological threats, combined with weather extremes, have significantly shaped harvest outcomes.
In November 2025, the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) launched a pest control initiative that significantly improved agricultural outcomes in five counties: Homa Bay, Nandi, Migori, Bungoma, and Kakamega.
The project reached over 40,000 farmers and focused on training in integrated pest management, plant-health diagnostics, and safe crop protection practices.
Before the programe, farmers lost at least 30 per cent of their produce to pests and diseases each season.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that eastern Africa warmed by more than 0.7°C since the 1980s, and Kenya has experienced notable increases in surface temperatures, especially in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs).
In 2025, farmers across much of the Rift Valley, Eastern, and Coastal regions felt this heat more acutely. Higher temperatures accelerated evaporation, dried out soils faster, stressed plants, interfered with pollination, and increased pest pressure.
Maize is particularly vulnerable: temperatures above 30°C during flowering reduce kernel formation and overall yield. “It became too hot for maize. Even when rains come, the heat dries the ground,” a farmer in Machakos who switched part of his farm to pigeon peas and sorghum said.
These conditions have contributed to a gradual regional shift from maize toward more heat-tolerant crops such as sorghum, millet, and cowpeas, a trend that continued in 2025.
Flooding in some regions
While some counties battled drought and heat, others faced the opposite problem.
Along the lower Tana Basin, parts of Garissa, Tana River, and Lamu, and sections of western Kenya, heavy rains earlier in the year caused flash floods.
The early onset of the March–April–May long rains in 2025 triggered widespread flooding across several parts of Kenya, causing significant disruptions to farming activities.
The Kenya Meteorological Department had confirmed the start of the rains in March, noting that rainfall was expected to continue over several parts of the country.
This was with isolated heavy rainfall events, particularly over the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, including Nairobi County, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, the Southeastern lowlands, and Northeastern Kenya.
The intense downpours led to rivers overflowing and waterlogging vast tracts of farmland in low-lying areas. Crops such as maize, beans, and vegetables were submerged, with some farmers reporting total losses.
Livestock farmers were also affected, as grazing lands were flooded and water sources contaminated. Small-scale farmers, in particular, faced delays in planting schedules, with waterlogged fields hampering normal agricultural activities.
In addition to immediate crop losses, the heavy rains caused soil erosion and damaged key infrastructure, including farm access roads and irrigation channels, making recovery more challenging.
Agricultural officers urged farmers to take precautions and implement measures to protect crops and livestock.
These floods washed away soil nutrients, uprooted crops, destroyed farmland, and disrupted planting schedules.
“When the Tana overflows, it takes everything. We spent months preparing our land, only for the water to sweep the fields,” a farmer said in April.
Flooding has become more frequent because of climate change, which increases the intensity of rainfall events.
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry repeatedly warned that Kenya will face more extreme rainfall episodes as global temperatures rise.
Pests and diseases
Another consequence of warming temperatures and changing rainfall patterns is the increased spread of pests and diseases.
Fall armyworm, which first appeared in Kenya in 2016, remains a recurring menace. Research shows that warmer conditions and intermittent rains provide ideal breeding environments for the pest.
Reports from Nyeri, Bungoma, and parts of Meru indicated localized outbreaks in early 2025.
Additionally, fungal diseases such as maize lethal necrosis and aflatoxin-producing molds thrive in times of alternating drought and humidity.
A crop scientist from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) noted:
“Climate variability has created perfect conditions for pests and diseases to flourish. Every year, farmers face new combinations of stress.” These biological threats, combined with weather extremes, have significantly shaped harvest outcomes.
In November 2025, the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) launched a pest control initiative that significantly improved agricultural outcomes in five counties: Homa Bay, Nandi, Migori, Bungoma, and Kakamega.
The project reached over 40,000 farmers and focused on training in integrated pest management, plant-health diagnostics, and safe crop protection practices.
Before the programe, farmers lost at least 30 per cent of their produce to pests and diseases each season.
The initiative, implemented in partnership with the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and local county governments, aimed to reduce crop losses, lower production costs, and enhance food security.
During the launch at Kendu Showground in Homa Bay, KALRO’s Director of Partnerships and Business Development, Margaret Makelo, said the project applied various methods of pest control, including chemical and biological approaches, early planting, and crop rotation to help farmers control pests effectively.
FAO’s Boost project coordinator, Jimmy Mweri, added that the programme would “ensure farmers get what they should get from their farms” and promote climate-friendly farming practices.
Homa Bay County Agriculture Director Erick Adel noted that the project also helped address the shortage of agricultural extension officers, where previously the ratio of officers to farmers was 1:4000.
Many farmers reported improved yields and reduced losses, highlighting the programme’s role in stabilizing food production and supporting livelihoods across the target counties.
Livestock keepers feel climate pinch.
Though crops dominate harvest discussions, pastoral communities have also felt climate impacts throughout 2025.
ASAL counties including Turkana, Marsabit, Isiolo, Wajir, Mandera, Taita Taveta, and Kajiado remain particularly exposed.
These areas have historically experienced cycles of drought, but rising temperatures and variable rainfall have intensified pressure on grazing lands.
In 2025, pasture quality in parts of northern Kenya deteriorated earlier than expected. Water points dried up faster, forcing herders to travel longer distances.
This mirrors long-standing trends documented by climate scientists: the ASALs are warming faster than other regions.
Livestock bodies weaken under heat stress, milk yields decline, and market prices fall. These effects ripple through households and local economies, adding another dimension to Kenya’s climate-driven harvest story.
Adoption of climate-smart agriculture grows.
Despite the challenges, one clear sign of progress is the accelerating shift toward climate-smart agricultural practices.
Across various counties, farmers in 2025 continued adopting methods recommended over the past decade, including drought-tolerant and early-maturing crop varieties.
Sorghum, millet, green grams, cowpeas, and heat-tolerant maize varieties are increasingly common, especially in Eastern and Coastal regions.
Through water conservation techniques, farmers used mulching, roof water harvesting, micro-dams, and drip irrigation more widely than in previous years.
Kenya’s agriculture is already living in the era of climate change. The conditions shaping harvests today—heatwaves, erratic rains, pests, and soil stress—are not anomalies. They are the new normal.
Yet the season also showed that adaptation is possible.
Climate-smart agriculture, improved seeds, water-efficient systems, soil conservation, early warnings, and diversified crops all helped farmers withstand shocks.
Kenya’s 2025 harvest was shaped not by a single disaster but by overlapping climate pressures long in motion.
The season reaffirmed that rains are increasingly unreliable, heat stress is rising, floods and droughts coexist in different zones, and pests and diseases react to climate shifts.
Source: The Star
During the launch at Kendu Showground in Homa Bay, KALRO’s Director of Partnerships and Business Development, Margaret Makelo, said the project applied various methods of pest control, including chemical and biological approaches, early planting, and crop rotation to help farmers control pests effectively.
FAO’s Boost project coordinator, Jimmy Mweri, added that the programme would “ensure farmers get what they should get from their farms” and promote climate-friendly farming practices.
Homa Bay County Agriculture Director Erick Adel noted that the project also helped address the shortage of agricultural extension officers, where previously the ratio of officers to farmers was 1:4000.
Many farmers reported improved yields and reduced losses, highlighting the programme’s role in stabilizing food production and supporting livelihoods across the target counties.
Livestock keepers feel climate pinch.
Though crops dominate harvest discussions, pastoral communities have also felt climate impacts throughout 2025.
ASAL counties including Turkana, Marsabit, Isiolo, Wajir, Mandera, Taita Taveta, and Kajiado remain particularly exposed.
These areas have historically experienced cycles of drought, but rising temperatures and variable rainfall have intensified pressure on grazing lands.
In 2025, pasture quality in parts of northern Kenya deteriorated earlier than expected. Water points dried up faster, forcing herders to travel longer distances.
This mirrors long-standing trends documented by climate scientists: the ASALs are warming faster than other regions.
Livestock bodies weaken under heat stress, milk yields decline, and market prices fall. These effects ripple through households and local economies, adding another dimension to Kenya’s climate-driven harvest story.
Adoption of climate-smart agriculture grows.
Despite the challenges, one clear sign of progress is the accelerating shift toward climate-smart agricultural practices.
Across various counties, farmers in 2025 continued adopting methods recommended over the past decade, including drought-tolerant and early-maturing crop varieties.
Sorghum, millet, green grams, cowpeas, and heat-tolerant maize varieties are increasingly common, especially in Eastern and Coastal regions.
Through water conservation techniques, farmers used mulching, roof water harvesting, micro-dams, and drip irrigation more widely than in previous years.
Kenya’s agriculture is already living in the era of climate change. The conditions shaping harvests today—heatwaves, erratic rains, pests, and soil stress—are not anomalies. They are the new normal.
Yet the season also showed that adaptation is possible.
Climate-smart agriculture, improved seeds, water-efficient systems, soil conservation, early warnings, and diversified crops all helped farmers withstand shocks.
Kenya’s 2025 harvest was shaped not by a single disaster but by overlapping climate pressures long in motion.
The season reaffirmed that rains are increasingly unreliable, heat stress is rising, floods and droughts coexist in different zones, and pests and diseases react to climate shifts.
Source: The Star
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