The Kenya Meteorological Department has issued an update warning Kenyans to expect more rainfall in the coming days.
In an advisory shared on Thursday, April 25, 2024, the weatherman said the ongoing rains will persist across different parts of the country including the Lake Victoria Basin, Rift Valley, Highlands West and East of the Rift Valley including Nairobi area, Southeast lowlands the northern and the coast.
The met department also noted that the rains will persist from Friday, April 26 to Saturday, April 27, and are likely to be accompanied by gusty winds.
“It is likely to reduce in intensity on 28th April 2024. The heavy rainfall is likely to be accompanied by gusty winds, large ocean waves in the Indian Ocean and strong southerly winds in the eastern sector,” the weatherman said.
According to the forecast shared by the weatherman, the rains will affect counties such as Nyandarua, Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kiambu, Meru, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, Nairobi, Machakos, Kitui, Makueni, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Siaya, Migori, Busia, Kisii, Nyamira, Nandi, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Narok, Baringo, Nakuru, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Elgey Marakwet, West Pokot, Kajiado, Taita Taveta, Mombasa, Tana River, Kilifi, Lamu, Kwale, Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, and Isiolo.
Residents in the mentioned areas have been advised to look out for potential floods and poor visibility.
The weatherman also advised the aforementioned residents to avoid walking in moving water or open fields and not to shelter under trees to minimize exposure to lightning strikes.
The met department also urged residents living in landslide-prone areas to remain vigilant and asked those living in downstream rivers and along seasonal rivers to be careful.
Additionally, the weatherman cautioned that the strong winds may blow off roofs, uproot trees and cause structural damage.
The latest comes amid calls of concern over the ravaging floods that have continued to wreak havoc across the country.
So far, President William Ruto has issued a strategic response plan aimed at safeguarding lives, property and infrastructure during the flash floods across the country.
“The rains have been truly a blessing to us as a nation and we have seen a lot of turnaround because of the rains but also we have a challenge now of floods in different areas and therefore it is important for us to be proactive in terms of which interventions we can make, there are citizens living in very dangerous places and those are the most vulnerable at this point.
“We need to certainly understand that so that we can inform citizens who are in places that pose dangers to them and begin to relocate them. I already told the National Youth Service to provide us with some land to relocate some of the people who are in the most dangerous parts of Nairobi,” Ruto announced.
The plan which features a collaborative team comprised of various leaders and security agencies will observe the flood situations in different parts of the country and provide the needed assistance through various rescue measures and responses.
