North Rift farmers are threatening to sue the Meteorological Department for "misleading" them with wrong predictions about the imminence of El Nino rains, thus making them incur heavy losses after the rains failed altogether.

It is not difficult to empathise with them; nor are they alone in their misery.

All farmers countrywide have started counting their losses after the expected heavy downpour turned into a series of spasmodic trickles, and then failed altogether.

As for whether the Met was wrong in its forecast, that goes without saying. Why this should be so in this technological age does not make much sense.

The weatherman ought to predict, with a certain degree of accuracy, what should happen tomorrow, next month or even next year. That is the only reason for the department's existence.

But beyond that, we must acknowledge that the department is in no way responsible for the failure of the short rains; we, collectively are.

When Kenyans were told to plant trees, they went on a timber-harvesting spree. When they were told to quit water-catchment areas, they said they were being victimised.

When they were warned that their activities were endangering their future, they were told by their leaders that rain does not fall from trees, but from skies.

This is the fourth consecutive season in which the rains have failed. Suing the Met Department won't get anyone anywhere.