Heavy Rains Expected in Western Kenya as Dry Spell Holds Firm

While sunshine and clear skies will dominate in many regions, isolated showers are anticipated in western zones and sections of the Rift Valley. This mixed pattern offers a brief contrast to the broader dry trend that has settled over much of the landscape.

Counties expected to see rainfall include Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Kericho, Nyandarua and Nyeri. These pockets of moisture could provide welcome relief for farmers and residents in those areas, even as the rest of the nation remains under predominantly dry skies. The forecast underscores a clear regional divide in weather activity during this period.

Meanwhile, several other counties will encounter intermittent cool and cloudy spells rather than outright rain. Nairobi joins Embu, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Meru and Murang’a in this category, with additional cloud cover and cooler temperatures possible in Tharaka-Nithi, Machakos, Kajiado, Taita-Taveta, Marsabit and Wajir. As the meteorological department noted, “Most parts of the country are expected to be generally dry.”

These cooler and cloudier conditions are not expected to linger continuously but will appear in spells throughout the forecast window. Looking further ahead, attention is already shifting toward September, when heavier and more sustained rainfall could begin to emerge in certain regions. Early indications point to the North Eastern area and portions of the Coast receiving amounts that may exceed long-term averages by as much as twenty millimetres in some locations.

Broader seasonal patterns are also coming into focus, with experts monitoring the potential influence of El Niño later in the year. While relatively dry weather may continue in the near term, rainfall is projected to strengthen from October onward, bringing above-average totals across most parts of the country during the October-to-November window. Residents are advised to stay updated as these evolving conditions take shape.