Heavy rains will continue throughout the
week in Central and Western Kenya and may cause flooding and mudslides, the Meteorological department has said.
Peter Macharia, assistant director in the multi-hazard services division, warned the rains will be accompanied by strong winds that may damage weak structures.
Macharia said afternoon showers and thunderstorms are expected over several parts of the Lake
Victoria basin and most of the Rift Valley counties.
“Residents of these areas are advised not to take shelter under trees to avoid possibilities of lightning strikes,” he said.
The department also released the May forecast showing most parts of Kenya will receive adequate rainfall.
Peter Ambenje, acting director of meteorological services, said the rains will improve crop yield in agricultural areas and
raise water levels in dams for generation of electricity.
Most of Western Kenya highlands, Rift Valley, Central Kenya highlands and the Coastal strip will receive near normal rainfall over the next four weeks.
These areas include Kitale, Kakamega, Eldoret, Kisumu, Kisii, Kericho and Nyahururu.
Others are Nairobi area, Embu, Nyeri, Meru, Murang’a, Mombasa, Kilifi, Malindi,
Msabaha and Lamu.
He noted benefits will be huge for farmers
in Kitale, Eldoret, Kakamega, Kericho, Kisii and Nandi Hills areas where near-average rainfall is expected to continue into August.
But the acting director added: “The overall crop performance may be dictated by how the Fall Armyworm is controlled in these areas."
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Pasture and water for livestock will remain limited in counties including
Turkana, Wajir, Isiolo and Garissa where depressed rainfall will be experienced.
“North Western Kenya, Northern Kenya including Moyale and Marsabit, North Eastern and South Eastern Kenya are expected to receive generally depressed rainfall [but] some of these areas may experience a few days of intense rainfall,” Ambenje said.
The rains are expected to cease at the end of the month as the long rains season comes to a close.
In southern parts of Central Rift Valley, including Narok, Kajiado, Magadi and Central Kenya, they will end during the third to fourth weeks of May.
In the North Western, North Eastern and South Eastern parts of the country, the cessation is likely to
occur during the second to third weeks of May.
Western parts of the country including parts of central Rift Valley (Nakuru, Nyahururu) and the
Coastal strip are expected to continue receiving rainfall into June.