Nairobi residents brave early morning rainfall and chilly weather on April 29, 2026. /FILE
Several parts of the country are expected to receive rainfall on Monday, while cool and cloudy conditions, as well as strong winds, are forecast in other areas.
The latest forecast by the Kenya Meteorological Department indicates that rainfall is expected in parts of Uasin Gishu, Bungoma, Nakuru, Kericho, Kakamega, Trans-Nzoia, Vihiga, Bomet, Nandi, Meru, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Mombasa, Kwale, Lamu, Nyamira, Embu, Murang'a, Nyeri and Nyandarua counties.
In Nairobi, light rainfall is likely in a few areas, including Westlands, Dagoretti South, Dagoretti North, Kibra and Lang'ata.
Other parts of the capital are expected to experience cloudy conditions that will break into sunny intervals, with a chance of light rainfall.
Maximum temperatures are forecast to reach 22°C.
Cool and cloudy conditions are also expected intermittently in parts of Embu, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Meru, Murang'a, Nairobi, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Tharaka-Nithi, Kitui, Machakos, Kajiado and Makueni counties.
The Met department also warned of strong southerly to southeasterly winds of more than 25 knots (12.5 metres per second) over parts of Marsabit, Isiolo, Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, Tana River, Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu and Kitui counties.
Counties urged to prepare for El Niño rains
Meanwhile, counties at high risk have been urged to activate their anticipatory mechanisms ahead of the anticipated El Niño rains.
The counties include Homa Bay, Kisumu and Nakuru, where water levels in Lake Victoria, Lake Turkana, Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Lake Elementaita, Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru are already rising.
Weather experts at the Kenya Meteorological Department said the counties should prepare for the worst-case scenario to protect lives and property ahead of the anticipated El Niño-driven heavy rainfall during the October-November-December short rains season.
The meteorologists warned that El Niño-triggered rains could cause backflow in lakes, potentially resulting in displacement.
“The two signals, the strong El Nino and the positive Indian Ocean Dipole, could enhance the rainfall, triggering an early onset of the season which could begin with torrential heavy rainfall resulting in flash floods over different parts of the country,” said Misiani Zachary, a Disaster Risk Management and Anticipatory Action Expert at the Kenya Met.
Speaking during a webinar on the potential impacts of the rains in Kenya, Misiani said Lake Victoria and Lake Naivasha are among the lakes that could be affected by water backflow.
