Kenya Met: Our forecasts are accurate nowadays
By Nancy Marende, March 3, 2026The Kenya Meteorological Department has defended the accuracy of its weather forecasts, saying improvements in technology and coordination have significantly enhanced reliability and precision down to the ward level.
Speaking during an interview at a local TV station on Monday, March 2, 2026, the Kenya Meteorological Department Director, Edward Muriuki, said the agency’s forecasts are now more dependable and actionable than in previous years.
“Our forecasts are pretty accurate nowadays. They are reliable, they are useful, and they should be used,” Muriuki said.
He explained that forecasting begins at a broader regional level and is then refined locally.
According to him, meteorological experts from 11 countries in the Greater Horn of Africa first collaborated to develop regional forecasts. These are then localised at the national level before being further downscaled to counties and eventually wards.
“We used to be very general, but now we have gone down to ward level. From the county level, one is able to get what is expected even at the ward level,” he noted.
Muriuki said the move toward localised forecasting is part of a global push to strengthen early warning systems and better protect communities from hazardous weather events.
He referenced the United Nations’ Early Warnings for All initiative, which aims to ensure that every person on earth is protected from hazardous weather, water, and climate events by 2027.
“Here in Kenya, we launched a roadmap last year, including the Kenya Red Cross, the Kenya Meteorological Department, the Communications Authority and a partnership with other agencies to ensure that this information is relayed to the last mile,” he said.
This comes months after the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) reaffirmed the critical role of accurate and reliable weather forecasts in safeguarding lives, protecting property, and conserving the natural environment, as climate-related risks continue to intensify across the region.
Speaking during the official opening of the 72nd Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF 72) in Nairobi on Monday, January 26, 2026, KMD Director Edward Muriuki noted that weather and climate forecasts across the Greater Horn of Africa have significantly improved in accuracy and reliability.
“I am glad to note that our forecasts as a region have become more accurate and reliable and are now being used at national and subnational levels for planning and decision-making,” he stated.
He emphasised that the Kenya Meteorological Department, together with other National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) in the region, remains committed to continuously providing timely and accurate weather and climate information.