DROUGHT: LET'S ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES
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Rain making is now possible and realistic using a relatively simple and inexpensive technology called cloud seeding. This has been the case for more than a decade now - so its nothing new.

Science has reached a point where we are no longer 100% at the mercy of weather. Many countries, china being a good example, make rain on a regular basis to preempt and prevent drought (among other reasons).

I am surprised that the Kenya Metereologcal department does not proactively keep abreast with technological developments. If these people were on performance contracts, they should all have beeen fired by now!

How does the same problem occur each and every season and still catches us by surprise? Metereological "experts" are not journalists. Sitting pretty and writing weather reports is not going to help anyone. "Er.. the clouds say El Nina is coming.." ok fine... but what do we do about it?! How do we prepare / mitigate?

How ironic that when the rains were plenty last season, there was not enough capacity to absorb the surge in food production. Prices plummeted and large amounts of food were wasted. Less than 18 months ago, and now there is a food shortage? How???

I believe a small clique of individuals in Government and many foreign NGO officials personally benefit from such perennial crises. They see it as a an opportunity for embezzlement of AID money. Such embezzlement may be direct misappropriation (Gov officials) or indirect (foreign NGOs) via high salaries/overheads for foreign "drought experts". Easy come Easy go.

Drought is a political tool for the thugs in parliament and a funding source for foreign NGOs. They cannot all be that dumb. Would suspected drug dealers / murderers care that people are dying from hunger - if they can somehow profit from it?

We, the people, can end the cycle of perennial begging by changing the way we think and the things we hold our leaders accountable for.

We have had enough of the hoodwinking nyef nyef. We have had enough of symptom driven initiatives. Let us insist that the ROOT CAUSES be addressed. Let us insist that any crisis must lead to solid measures to mitigate effects of or prevent future reoccurence. If the thugs can't do it, let us elect people who can in 2012.

(Disclaimer: Personal observation & Opinion)