Dark clouds are expected to gather over large parts of Kenya this weekend, with forecasters warning of heavy downpours that could trigger flooding in several regions.
The Kenya Meteorological Department said in an advisory issued on Friday that moderate to heavy rainfall would fall from Friday through Monday across wide swathes of the country. The agency urged residents in affected areas to prepare for possible floods and thunderstorms.
In the Highlands East of the Rift Valley, counties including Nyandarua, Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kiambu, Meru, Embu, Tharaka Nithi and Nairobi are set for intense afternoon showers following sunny mornings. The pattern, forecasters said, is expected to repeat over the next five days.
For many in Nairobi, the warning brings uneasy memories. Past heavy rains have left roads in the central business district and estates such as Parklands submerged, stranding commuters and damaging homes.
“We expect heavy downpours, particularly in the afternoons and evenings,” the department said in its statement. It advised residents to “remain alert for potential flooding in low-lying and poorly drained areas”.
The Lake Victoria Basin and parts of the Rift Valley are also in the path of the storm system. Counties such as Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Trans Nzoia, Baringo and Uasin Gishu are likely to see heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms.
A similar outlook has been issued for Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Nakuru, Narok, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia and West Pokot. Night-time showers are expected in several of these areas.
In the South-eastern lowlands — including Kitui, Makueni, Machakos, Kajiado and Taita Taveta, as well as inland parts of Tana River County — forecasters predict afternoon and evening rain, with lighter showers in the mornings.
Along the Coast, the picture is less severe. Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu and Kwale are expected to receive light rains. Meanwhile, the northern counties of Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa and Isiolo are forecast to remain largely sunny and dry.
Weather experts often caution that heavy rainfall over a short period can overwhelm drainage systems, especially in urban centres. The department has urged motorists to drive carefully and residents in flood-prone zones to take precautions.
As the country heads into the weekend, many will be watching the skies — hopeful for the relief rain brings to farms, but wary of the disruption it can cause in towns and cities.