IMTR Celebrates 62nd Graduation, Strengthening Meteorological Capacity in Africa
Nairobi, Kenya | 27 August 2026 The Institute for Meteorological Training and Research (IMTR) in Nairobi celebrated its 62nd Graduation Ceremony, marking another important milestone in strengthening meteorological capacity in the region.
A total of 16 students; 10 from Kenya and 5 from Somalia and 1 from Eswatini, graduated from the Operational Training Course (OTC) and Middle Meteorological Technicians Course (MMTC), offered under IMTR’s World Meteorological Organization Regional Training Centre (WMO-RTC) programmes.
The Chief Guest, Ms. Hlobsile Sikhosana, WMO Representative for Eastern and Southern Africa, underscored the critical role of meteorology in national development and growth. WMO has supported numerous students to undertake training at IMTR, including the five Somali students in this cohort.
IMTR Director, Mr. Benard Chanzu, congratulated the graduands, noting that the knowledge and practical skills gained through the programmes will contribute to improved service delivery and strengthen operational forecasting.
Representing Kenya’s Permanent Representative with WMO, Mr. Charles Mugah highlighted the significance of the training as Kenya progresses with the transition of the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) into the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority (KMSA). He noted that the skills acquired by the graduands will contribute to building a stronger meteorological service as they enter the workforce.
The ceremony brought together leaders and partners from Kenya and Somalia, including representatives of KMSA and the Trans-African HydroMeteorological Observatory (TAHMO). TAHMO Business Development Manager David Njoroge Mburu represented TAHMO, a key partner to KMSA and IMTR, with TAHMO’s offices hosted at KMSA Headquarters.
Following the ceremony, Ms. Sikhosana visited the IMTR-TAHMO Lab, where she was taken through the facility by Mr. Paul Murage, Assistant Director, Education and Training at IMTR also TAHMO Focal Point, alongside Mr. David Mburu of TAHMO and Mr. Joshua.
The visit highlighted the value of practical, hands-on learning. The lab gives students an opportunity to interact with modern Automatic Weather Stations and river gauge technologies, while gaining first-hand experience with both the hardware and the data they generate.
Ms. Sikhosana commended TAHMO and IMTR for the initiative, noting the importance of equipping the next generation of meteorological professionals with practical skills and exposure to emerging observation technologies.
The 62nd graduation therefore represents more than an academic milestone, it is a contribution towards building a stronger, more skilled and technology-ready meteorological workforce for Kenya, Somalia and the wider African region.
