The rains pounding Nairobi and parts of the highlands east of the rift Valley including Nyeri are being attributed to the presence of the ITCZ over northern Tanzania and the southern part of Kenya.
The Director of Kenya Meteorological Service Dr. David Gikungu says the heavy downpour will subside by Friday. “We will then continue with the dry spell into the March to May season,” said Dr. Gikungu.
Speaking at the close of the 10th National Climate Outlook Forum, held in Garissa County, Dr. Gikungu said that parts Western Kenya as well as the lake basin region could continue having rains into the long rains season which begins in the last week March to May.
“The MAM 2025 forecast indicates that near to above-average rainfall is expected over the Lake Victoria Basin, South Rift Valley, most of the Highlands West of the Rift Valley, the southern parts of the Southeastern lowlands and the extreme northern parts of northwestern Kenya,” said Dr. Gikungu and added, “Near to below average rainfall is expected over Central Rift Valley, Highlands East of the Rift Valley (including Nairobi County), most of Northwest, Coastal region, Southeastern lowlands and isolated areas over the Highlands West of the Rift Valley.
The Director of Meteorological Service further indicated that, below average rainfall is expected over the northeastern Kenya as well as the north coast, said Dr. Gikungu when he released the March April May forecast. “We call on the line sectors to advise communities to conserve the available water and pasture as the season will have below normal rainfall,” he said.
He further explained that, during the March, April to May long rains season, it is likely that several areas will have a generally poor to fair distribution of rainfall in both time and space. “The onset of the season is expected to be normal to late onset, with occasional dry spells, occasional storms are likely to be experienced in some parts of the country during the season,” he warned.
The peak of the rains, according to the forecast, is expected to be in April for most regions, except over the Coastal Strip where the highest rainfall is expected in May
While closing the three day NCOF, the Garissa Deputy County Commissioner Sebastian Okiring directed the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) to reign in on charcoal burners and charcoal sellers in the counties of Kitui, Tana River and Garissa.
Okiring warned that charcoal burners in the area are destroying the ecosystem and undermining the biodiversity balance. He expressed worry over the many people seen selling charcoal on the way from Nairobi to Garissa.
“As you travel from Mwingi towards Garissa the whole are has bags of charcoal dotting every bus stop,” he said and added, “it worries me that, some of that charcoal could be from the few trees that have survived for over 100years.”
The DCC asked the KFS to use the law which he said empowers them to stop the menace adding that the wanton destruction of trees and the ecosystem needs to be brought under control.
Okiring further urged communities to maintain the peace adding that competition over resources could be the flashpoint of conflicts. “When neighboring communities come to your area in search of water and pasture during the dry season, allow them,” said Okiring as he called for peace and tranquillity.
The Kenya Meteorological Department in its long rains forecast, has indicated that, the north eastern region including Garissa will receive below average rainfall in the March, April to May season.
