Kenya Met Issues October Rainfall Warning, Flags Flooding Risk In Several Areas

Kenyans should brace for a soggy October as the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority (KMSA) says many parts of the country will get more rain than usual this month, and it is cautioning that some of the downpours could be heavy enough to cause flooding.

The rains won’t arrive everywhere at once. Nairobi, Kiambu, Meru, Embu, Machakos, Kitui, Makueni, Kajiado and other counties in the central and eastern regions should start seeing them between the second and third weeks of October.

In its October forecast, the Kenya Met said heavy rainfall events are likely in several areas, bringing a greater risk of flash floods, flooding along rivers, landslides and damage to infrastructure.

“Enhanced rainfall is likely to increase the probability of weather-related hazards such as flash floods, riverine flooding, landslides, and localized infrastructural damage,” KMSA said.

Roads and bridges are among the most exposed. Flooding, waterlogging and erosion could damage them, and rural access roads are especially at risk once the rain has gone on for a while. In towns and cities, clogged drainage could leave motorists stuck in traffic.

The October showers are also the opening act for the October-November-December short rains, which KMSA expects to be wetter than normal across most of the country.

For farmers, that is mostly good news. Better soil moisture helps with land preparation and planting, pasture should recover, and livestock will have more water. But too much rain brings its own problems, including waterlogged fields, crop diseases and trouble getting produce to market.

The agency also flagged health concerns, standing water gives mosquitoes places to breed, which could push up malaria cases, while floods and poor drainage raise the risk of water-borne diseases.

Even with all the rain, it will stay warm, temperatures across Kenya are forecast to run above average in October, and parts of Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa and Isiolo could hit a high of 39°C.

Read Also: Kenya Met Issues Rainfall Alert As Intensifying El Niño Looms