Kenya Met Predicts 5-Day Rainfall As March-April-May Rainy Season Begins
Kenya Met anticipates showers in at least 20 counties. Despite the expected rainfall, temperatures will remain high across most parts of the country.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
The Kenya Meteorological Department has predicted weekend rainfall in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kiambu, and Machakos, among other counties, as the long rains season for March-April-May begins.
In a five-day weather forecast from Saturday, March 1, to Wednesday, March 5, 2025, Kenya Met anticipates showers in at least 20 counties. Despite the expected rainfall, temperatures will remain high across most parts of the country.
For the Highlands East of the Rift Valley—including Nairobi, Nyandarua, Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang'a, Kiambu, Meru, Embu, and Tharaka—afternoon showers are expected on Saturday and Sunday. Light showers will persist from Monday to Wednesday, particularly around Mount Kenya and the Aberdares.
Temperatures in Nairobi and surrounding highland areas are forecasted to peak at 32°C on Saturday, staying around 30°C from Sunday to Tuesday, with nighttime lows of 7°C.
Collage image of Kenyans walking in heavy rain in Nairobi and lightning during a thunderstorm. /THE STAR.NEW YORK TIMES
The Highlands West of the Rift Valley, Lake Victoria Basin, and the broader Rift Valley region—including Kisumu, Kisii, Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, Kakamega, and Busia—are expected to remain mostly sunny with scattered clouds and no rainfall. Daytime temperatures will reach 34°C from Sunday to Wednesday, with minimums dropping to 11°C.
Coastal counties such as Mombasa, Kilifi, and Kwale will experience morning showers from Monday to Wednesday, with daytime temperatures soaring above 36°C on Saturday and dropping slightly to 34°C from Monday.
In the southeastern lowlands, including Kitui, Makueni, Machakos, Kajiado, Taita Taveta, and inland parts of Tana River County, light morning showers are expected from Monday to Wednesday.
The weekend is forecasted to be sunny, with daytime temperatures reaching 35°C and nighttime lows of 14°C.
Weather Outlook
Met Director General Dr David Gikungu reported on January 29 that the rainy season in most parts would run between February and June. The announcement, which came amid heavy downpours in some parts of the country, especially Nairobi, over the past few days, states that some parts will receive high and others low rainfall.
The Lake Victoria Basin and the Highlands West of the Rift Valley are expected to experience above-average rainfall starting in February, with the peak expected in April and May for most areas. “The MAM 2025 forecast indicates that near to above-average rainfall is expected over the Lake Victoria Basin, South Rift Valley, most of the Highlands West of the Rift Valley, the southern parts of the Southeastern lowlands and the extreme northern parts of northwestern Kenya,” KMD stated.
Counties in the Lake Victoria Basin, South Rift Valley and some parts of the Highlands West of the Rift Valley include Homa Bay, Migori, Kisumu, Busia, Siaya, Narok, Bomet, Kisii, Nyamira, Kericho, Nandi, Kakamega and Vihiga.
Counties in Central and North Rift Valley and parts of the Highlands West of the Rift Valley where above-average rains also start in February are Nakuru, Baringo, Western parts of Laikipia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Bungoma and Southern parts of West Pokot.
The weatherman at the same time predicted that counties in the highlands East of the Rift Valley and Nairobi County would begin experiencing rains between the fourth week of March and April. Some of the affected counties are Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Embu, Meru, Kiambu, Nyandarua, Nairobi, and the eastern parts of Laikipia County.
The South Eastern Lowlands of Kajiado, Kitui, Makueni, Machakos, Tana River and Taita Taveta counties are expected to experience occasional rains in February, followed by a dry spell before the season rains kick off towards the end of March or the beginning of February.
However, the North Coast region of Lamu, Coastal parts of Tana River, Northern parts of Kilifi, the Coastal region, the Northwest of Turkana and Samburu and Northern parts of West Pokot will begin receiving their rains in April. The North Eastern counties of Wajir, Isiolo, Garissa, Mandera and Marsabit will also have their onset in the same period.
While cautioning the public to watch out for storms in some areas, the Met Department has also urged the public to consider the outlook of a 24-hour, 5-day, 7-day, and monthly forecast for a more detailed weather change.
