Kenya Met List Areas to Experience Floods and Landslides Amid Heavy Rains

The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that heavy rains will continue in Nairobi and many other counties across the country until May 1. Residents in affected areas have been asked to remain alert due to the risk of floods and landslides.

According to the latest weather update, counties expected to continue receiving heavy rainfall include Nairobi, Kiambu, Murang’a, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, Meru, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Kisumu, Kakamega, Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Turkana and Marsabit. Some places are expected to receive very heavy downpours.

Kenya Met said the rains will mainly affect areas in the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, Nairobi, the Rift Valley region, the Coast and Northeastern Kenya.

The department also warned that poor visibility during storms could affect road transport and flights. Motorists and commuters have been advised to be extra careful, especially during the early morning and evening hours when traffic is usually heavy.

Residents have also been cautioned against sheltering under trees or staying near grilled windows during storms because of the danger posed by strong winds and lightning strikes.

Kenya Met further noted that rivers may continue rising even in areas that are not currently receiving heavy rain. This increases the danger of flash floods in downstream areas and could catch residents by surprise.

People living in flood-prone areas such as Nairobi, Kisumu and Garissa have been advised to keep following weather updates and move to safer places if water levels begin to rise quickly.

The warning also includes landslide-prone areas such as Nyeri, Murang’a and parts of Meru, especially around the Aberdare ranges and Mount Kenya, where the soil is already soaked and may easily slide.

Despite the ongoing rains, some counties including Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera and Turkana are still expected to experience high daytime temperatures of above 30°C.

Meanwhile, colder nights are expected in counties such as Nyandarua, Nakuru, Kajiado and Taita Taveta, where temperatures could fall below 10°C.

This comes just weeks after deadly floods in different parts of the country claimed more than 100 lives and destroyed roads, bridges and other important infrastructure. County governments and the national government have since been working on measures to reduce future flood damage.