Home / National

Heavy rain alert: Weatherman warns of heavy downpour Friday to Sunday

A flooded section of Ring Road Ngara in Starehe Constituency, Nairobi, is pictured on April 21, 2024, following heavy rains the previous night. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

By Maureen Kinyanjui | 26 Apr 2024

Heavy rainfall of more than 40mm in 24 hours, pounding several parts of the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, and the Highlands, West and East of the Rift Valley, including the Nairobi area, Southeast Lowlands, Coast, and Northern sectors, is expected to continue from April 25, 2024.

The Kenya Meteorological Department has sounded the alarm for heavy rains set to be witnessed across various parts of Kenya, urging residents to brace themselves for potential flash floods.

In a statement on Thursday, David Gikungu, Director of the Kenya Meteorological Department, highlighted the risk of intense rainfall.

Keep reading

The heavy rainfall is projected to escalate to more than 40mm in 24 hours in various regions from April 26th to 27th, gradually tapering off on April 28th.

"The rains, which have so far led to the loss of lives and property, will intensify for two days and subside on Sunday," Gikungu said.

Heavy rainfall of more than 40mm in 24 hours, pounding several parts of the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, and the Highlands, West and East of the Rift Valley, including the Nairobi area, Southeast Lowlands, Coast, and Northern sectors, is expected to continue from April 25, 2024.

Nairobi, Samburu, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Isiolo, Nyandarua, Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Taita Taveta, Mombasa, Tana River, Kilifi, Lamu, and other counties are among those expected to experience the most severe flooding.

Murang'a, Kiambu, Meru, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, Machakos, Kitui, Makueni, Kisumu, Homabay, Siaya, Migori, Busia, Kisii, Nyamira, Nandi, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, and Narok, among others.

Residents residing in these areas have been urged to exercise caution, citing potential flooding, poor visibility, gusty winds, large ocean waves, and strong southerly winds in the southeast region as imminent threats.

"The water levels in rivers, lakes, and dams are expected to remain high. People leaving downstream rivers and along seasonal rivers should be careful since water may appear suddenly, even though it may not be raining within the area," Gikungu added.

Residents living on the slopes of the Aberdare ranges, Mount Kenya, the Western region, and other hilly areas are advised to exercise caution due to the heightened risk of landslides.

The destructive floods, aggravated by climate change, have wreaked havoc across the country.

The rains have claimed lives and forced thousands of people from their homes as rivers overflowed and engulfed low-income communities.

As of Thursday, the Kenya Red Cross disclosed that 26 out of the country's 47 counties have already been affected by the increased rainfall, resulting in at least 45 fatalities and 13,368 people being displaced.

Also, 29,269 households have been affected by the ongoing floods, and 5,407 livestock have been reported dead.

The floods impact has also affected 26 schools, 280 business premises, and 30,906 crops.

In a bid to intervene, the Kenya Red Cross has set up 50 internally displaced persons (IDP) camps across the country and rescued 302 people affected by the floods..