Impact of Rainfall Variability on Rural Tea Roads in Kericho, Kenya

East African Journal of Environment and Natural Resources

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Abstract: Climate variability is a global phenomenon that is posingathreat to the infrastructure and agricultural sector. Intense precipitationoften results in the deterioration of rural road infrastructure resulting ininaccessibility. Rainfall and temperature data from 1989 to 2019 was obtained from Kenya Meteorological Department. Data on Greenleaf and cost of repairs and maintenances arefrom selected tea factories managed by Kenya Tea Development Agency. Data on perception is based on a questionnairesurvey of398 randomly selected tea farmers. Results show that climate variability is experienced in Kericho (p<0.005). There is a varsity variation in mean maximum temperaturesF(0.05, 29)?5.564(p ? 0.009) and mean minimum temperature F(29)=8.503 (p ? 0.000). However, the linear regression analysis shows that rainfall has decreased (y ? 2.5476x -40.778) while the temperature hasincreased (y ? 0.028x-0.4473). There isa significant positive correlation between the amount of rainfall and cost of repairs and maintenances for five factories (r?0.122, r =0.046, r =0.029, r =0.255) except one(r =-.261, p ? .466). Therefore, the climate has significantly varied from1989-2019andheavy rains occur periodically that damage rural tea roads,thusimpacting negatively on tea transportation.There is a need, therefore, for heavy investment of emergency funds for repair and maintenance of rural tea roads based on rainfall variability and heavy rain return period pattern.