Even as the Nairobi County experiences sunny intervals today and tomorrow, the Meteorological Department has said that it will experience morning rains and afternoon showers from Thursday to Saturday.
Mary Kilavi, County Director of Meteorological Service, while giving the forecast for the period 6th to 12th October, said the rains are however expected to be of moderate intensity and should mark the onset of the short rains season.
Kilavi noted that last week’s forecast for the period 28th to 4th was hot and dry but there was a gradual increase in cloud cover causing a decrease in day time temperatures and an increase in night time temperatures as the period progressed.
“No rainfall was observed in any of the meteorological stations throughout the county the whole of last week during the review period though some rain clouds (cumulonimbus) were observed at some of the stations on some days.
Kilavi noted however that other parts of the country have recorded significant amounts of rainfall. The Meteorological Department issued early warning that the country will experience heavy rains in the period of October to December 2015 warning residents to be prepared.
Meanwhile, The National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) says that according to the outlook of the rains, Nairobi among other counties in Central Kenya, Eastern and Machakos areas are likely to receive above-normal rainfall. Director of NDOC Col (Rtd) Nathan Kigotho has said that many sectors are likely to be impacted both positively and negatively.
“National state organs held a meeting last month and developed strategies to minimize the negative effects of the phenomenon while at the same time maximizing on positive impact of the abundant rains,” he said.
He called upon farmers to double their efforts to reap maximum benefit from the good conditions for both food crops and cash crops during this time as it will boost food security. The Director notably named Eastern and Northern parts of the country where rain is usually minimal saying after the October – December rainfall season food security will improve significantly.
He on the other hand said challenges such as flash floods in flood prone areas , infrastructure damanges and impassable roads , enhanced water levels in the rivers like Athi, Tana, Nyando, among areas may affect market access, growth of crops or may even wash away crops in the seedbeds. Kigotho has called on county governments to help in community sensitization and participation through early warning and preparedness activities through coordination forums.
“Implementing community based flood early warning systems should be undertaken in all areas prone to floods, and so far Evacuation drill and community based flood hazard map has been undertaken in Isiolo, Taveta, Nyando and Nzoia,” he said.
Kigotho named sectors such as health, fisheries , livestock, water and agriculture as some of the areas that though can have positive results because of the rains,.
