Kenya Met Issues Update On El Nino After Ruto Remarks

The Kenya Meteorological Department has maintained that the country will experience high levels of rainfall this week, in line with President William Ruto who predicted the same last week.

In an update released on Monday, October 24, the weatherman revealed that rainfall is expected to continue in various parts of the country, with isolated storms likely in the Central Highlands and North-eastern Kenya.

"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."

In an apparent response to its earlier prediction of having El Nino rains, Kenya Met stated that more rains were experienced after October 15 as earlier predicted.

"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," the Met department stated.

During the 24-hour period on October 18, 2023, the weatherman further revealed that Meru Meteorological Station in Kenya recorded the highest amount of rainfall, reaching 102.4mm.

"It was a remarkable meteorological event, and many other stations also reported substantial rainfall, as shown in the table," it stated.

According to MET, from October 16 to  22, rain was observed in many parts of the country as earlier predicted.

In some areas, there were isolated thunderstorms. This includes counties like Meru, Kitui, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Marsabit, Meru, Kwale, Wajir, Tharaka Nithi, West Pokot, Embu, Trans Nzoia, Kiambu, & Isiolo

The forecast came a day after President Ruto noted that the country would not experience the severe effects of the El Nino rains.

Addressing a congregation during a church service in Riruta, Nairobi on Sunday, October 22, the Head of State revealed that meteorologists had reversed their previous projections of El Nino rains expected to hit the country.

Instead, the rains were scaled down to the significant rains, adding that the same is good for agriculture. However, with the short rains coupled with a downpour, farmers can look forward to producing more which will cushion the country from food shortages and escalating prices of food products.

"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 explained.

"We have now heard the meteorologists saying that will no longer be the case. We will just have heavy rains. We thank God."