When Nairobi Will Start Receiving Rainfall- Met Department

The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) announced on Friday, March 10 that Nairobi County will begin receiving rainfall by the end of the third week of March.

In a statement, Nairobi was listed among the Highland regions East of the Rift Valley and Central Kenya that will receive occasional rainfall between the weekend of Friday, March 10 and Sunday, March 12.

"The expected rainfall over the western sector of the country is likely to occasionally spill over to a few areas over the Highlands East of the Rift Valley including Nairobi County.

"The rainfall is expected to increase in intensity and spread to several places towards the end of the third week of March," KMD stated in part.

The March-April-May (MAM) season constitutes an important rainfall season in Kenya and more so over the Western, Rift Valley and Central regions. This seasonal rainfall highly impacts the agricultural sector and hence food security in the country.

As for the rest of the country, the Coastal Strip which includes Mombasa, Tana River, Kilifi, Lamu, and Kwale is expected to remain generally sunny for the remaining part of March. However occasional rainfall may be experienced especially from the fourth week of March, with the onset expected during the first to the second week of April on the South Coast and the second to the third week of April on the North Coast.

For the Lake Victoria Basin, Highlands West of the Rift Valley, Central and South Rift Valley that includes Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Trans Nzoia, Baringo, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Nandi, Laikipia, Nakuru, Narok, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma and Busia, light to moderate rainfall is expected over a few areas over the weekend. This rainfall is expected to increase in intensity and spread to several places from Monday, March 13.

"This will mark the onset of the MAM long rain season over the mentioned areas as had earlier been predicted. Farmers in these areas are advised to liaise with the ministry of agriculture in their respective counties for advice on the appropriate seeds to plant as well as good agricultural practices to maximise their yields," added KMD.

In the North-western Region (Turkana, West Pokot, and Samburu), light rainfall is expected over a few areas during the weekend with intensities expected to increase from Tuesday. The onset over these areas is however undefined as the rainfall is likely to be followed by long dry spells.

In the North-eastern Region (Wajir, Garissa, Isiolo, Mandera and Marsabit), light rainfall is expected over a few areas during the weekend, especially areas bordering Ethiopia and is likely to increase in intensity from Wednesday. The onset over these areas is however undefined as the rainfall is likely to be followed by long dry spells.

The rainfall that is expected over several parts of the country from the weekend is a result of the impacts of Cyclone Freddy which developed off the North Australian coast and became a named storm on Monday, February 6. It crossed the entire South Indian Ocean and made landfall in Madagascar on 21 February and then in Mozambique on 24 February.

Freddy was responsible for the rainfall that was experienced during the last week of February in parts of the Highlands West of the Rift Valley and Lake Victoria Basin as it made landfall in Mozambique.

The Friday statement came almost a month after President William Ruto led the nation to pray and ask for God’s intervention in bringing rain and blessings to the country.