The Kenya Meteorological Department has apologised to Kenyans for miscommunication over El Nino rains.
Earlier, the department had predicted that El Nino would hit the country from mid-October to December.
However, President William Ruto said the country will not experience El Nino rains as earlier predicted.
The information from the President and Met confused Kenyans on whether there will be El Nino or not.
In a press conference, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua asked Kenya Met Director David Gikungu to clear out the confusion.
Gikungu said that it has been confirmed the country is experiencing El Nino at the moment.
He apologised for the miscommunication that confused Kenyans.
"I want to point out that as initially given in the forecast, we have El Nino in this short rains season 2023 and we do apologise for the miscommunication because that was a big mistake but we are sorry about that," he said.
"Moving forward let us prepare ourselves for the enhanced rainfall as a result of the El Nino phenomena that we are in."
In response, the DP said, "The matter is settled, El Nino it is".
Heavy rains pounded North Eastern causing River Tana and River Dauwa in Garissa and Mandera counties to burst their banks.
Mandera North and Mandera East remain the most affected following the heavy rains.
The floods have left a trail of destruction, deaths and displacement of people.
Several roads have also been rendered impassable and farmlands destroyed.
Kenya Red Cross announced a total of 13,473 people residing in the North Eastern region have been displaced following the harsh impact of floods.
The organisation said a total of 26,011 families have been affected following floods as a result of El Nino.
The counties are; Wajir, Garissa, and Mandera, where people have mostly been affected, with homes submerging and lives disrupted.
