The Kenya Meteorological Department has maintained that Kenya will experience high levels of rainfall this week, concurring with President William Ruto, who projected the same last week.
In an update released on Monday, the department indicated that rainfall is expected to continue over several parts of the country, with the Highlands East of the Rift Valley and North-eastern Kenya likely to experience isolated storms.
"High average daytime (maximum) temperatures of more than 30 degrees Celsius are expected over several parts of the country including the Coast, North-eastern and North-western Kenya," read the statement in part.
"A few areas in the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the South-eastern lowlands and the Rift Valley will experience low average night-time (minimum) temperatures of less than 10 degrees Celsius."
The forecast comes a day after President William Ruto noted that the country would not experience severe El Nino effects.
Addressing a congregation during a church service in Riruta on Sunday, the Head of State indicated that the meteorologists had rescinded their earlier projection predicting the possibility of El Nino rains.
"We heard reports that the country will experience El Nino rains, which have the potential to destroy property. But God has been faithful," the President stated.
"We have now heard the meteorologists saying that will no longer be the case. We will just have heavy rains. We thank God."
In its analysis of last week, Kenya Met confirmed that there were isolated thunderstorms in Meru, Kitui, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Marsabit, Meru, Kwale, Wajir, Tharaka Nithi, West Pokot, Embu, Trans Nzoia, Kiambu, and Isiolo.
"When we compare the amount of rain from October 9 to 15, 2023, to the rain from October 16 to 22, 2023, we can see that there was more rain in the later period," read the report.
"The highest seven-day rainfall total (205.8mm) was recorded at the rainfall station at Gurar Police Station in Wajir County."
In an earlier projection, the Kenya Meteorological Department had indicated that Kenya would experience El Nino between the months of October and December.
In some regions like Western Kenya and parts of Rift Valley, the Department had indicated that El Nino effects would extend to January 2024.
