By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 12 December 2025 - Heavy rains pounded parts of Kisumu County on Friday evening, breaking a prolonged dry spell and rekindling hope among thousands of farmers who had been staring at poor yields this season.
The unexpected downpour comes after weeks of worry, with many farmers already fearing total crop failure.
The rains had disappeared shortly after most farmers planted cereal crops—maize being the dominant staple.
As the dry conditions persisted, some maize farms began to wilt prematurely, others showed early signs of drying, while a few remained in the developing stage with uncertain prospects.
The irregular weather patterns left many farmers anxious about their harvest.
Surprise rain, accompanied by hailstorm, started after 5pm and lasted almost three hours.
It left several roads and farming fields turned into paddles of water.
The drainage system in most city roads were also clogged as garbage were carried away by the heavy rains.
The current climatic condition, has changed the farmers predictions.
According to an agronomist Dr Beuttah Omanga, crop performance across the region has been poor this season due to delayed rainfall.
“We have witnessed very weak crop growth across most farms. The prolonged dry spell drastically affected maize and other cereals,” he said.
While the resumption of rainfall offers renewed hope for some, Dr. Omanga cautioned that for many farmers the relief has come too late, with irreversible damage already done.
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A number of them are now shifting their hopes to next year’s planting season, planning only to harvest whatever little survives this season.
He advised farmers to consider drought-resilient crops during the short rain periods.
“We must adopt new farming methods that can withstand drastic changes in weather patterns. Crops such as cowpeas, sorghum, beans, and cassava perform better under drought conditions,” he said.
Earlier reports had warned that the prolonged dry spell could trigger food insecurity in Nyanza, particularly in the four counties of Kisumu, Siaya, Homabay and Migori where crop performance has been notably poor.
Currently, maize is retailing at KSh 110 per 2-kg tin, with projections that prices may rise further by January when schools reopen and demand increases.
Food security remained a central theme during Friday's 62nd Jamhuri Day celebrations where President William Ruto reiterated the government’s commitment to enhancing food and nutritional security.
He noted that Kenya spends up to KSh 500 billion annually on food imports, a trend he said the country must reverse.
“We must reduce imports and stop being a net importer of cereals. Kenya has the capacity to expand agricultural production and grow its agribusiness sector to become a net exporter in the coming years,” President Ruto said.
Large-scale irrigation projects such as Galana Kulalu are expected to play a major role in boosting domestic food production, stabilising supplies, and increasing surplus for both local consumption and future export.
Rain Revives Hope for Kisumu Farmers After Long Drought
Kisumu Farmers Rejoice as Long-Awaited Rains Finally Arrive
Kisumu Farmers Rejoice as Long-Awaited Rains Finally Arrive
