The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned of short rains expected in various parts of the country from October to December.
Speaking to reporters in Nakuru on Wednesday, the Director of the Meteorological Department, David Gikongo, said the western part of the country extending to the central parts of the Rift Valley will receive normal rainfall.
Counties such as Nairobi, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Laikipia, Murang’a and Kiambu in the eastern part are expected to receive below normal rainfall.
In the coastal provinces, Mr. Gikongo said residents should expect low rainfall, which means below average rainfall.
The short rainy season is an important rainfall season in Kenya, especially in the central and eastern parts of the country.
“We are releasing it early because it is an early warning to all users so they have the entire month of September to file recalls,” he said.
He pointed out that the distribution of rainfall is expected to be poor in several parts, as it will be characterised by long periods of drought and isolated storms from time to time, even in areas where forecasts indicate low rainfall.
He said that temperatures will be above average in most parts of the country, except for some areas in the western sector where maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to be normal.
Jane Njeri Robin, Climate Change Unit Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, noted that the positive impact will be abundant and will provide more opportunities for farmers.
She said farmers in the eastern region could benefit from the lack of rain and grow short-term crops.
But it warned farmers from the western parts who farm in riverine areas that they could face flooding that would destroy their crops.