Heavy rains that everyone has been waiting for are finally on their way, and Nyeri County residents should prepare to see the first drops fall this coming Thursday. According to the Kenya Meteorological Services Authority, the much-awaited El Niño season is officially starting, and it is going to bring significant rainfall to the country for the next four months.
Peter Wambugu, the director of the Kenya Meteorological Services Authority in Nyeri, has confirmed that the county will be among the first areas to experience the October-November-December rains. While he said some light showers might fall towards the end of this week, the main downpour will truly pick up in the second and third weeks of October and continue right through to January next year.
The good news is that most parts of the country will receive more than the normal amount of rain during this season. This means farmers should be happy, because the extra water will help improve soil moisture and allow crops to grow well. Pastoralists will also benefit because there will be enough water and grass for their animals. However, only Turkana County and a few areas in West Pokot, Samburu, and Marsabit are expected to get near-normal rainfall amounts, so these regions might still struggle a bit.
Governor Mutahi Kahiga has already started preparing Nyeri for the rains. His administration has set aside 76 million shillings to make sure the county is ready when the rains arrive. On top of that, the county will use an additional 20 million shillings that has been waiting in the emergency fund since 2015. The governor has also told his government to change how they spend money in the coming budget so that dealing with the rains becomes the main focus.
The health department is getting 37 million shillings to watch out for diseases and buy medical supplies. This is important because when rains come, waterborne illnesses like malaria often spread, especially in areas with poor drainage. The county is also planning to spend 10 million shillings to fix roads and other infrastructure that might get damaged during the heavy downpour.
While the rains will definitely help the country, there are some things Kenyans need to be careful about. The heavy water could cause flooding in some areas where drainage systems are not good enough. Farms might also get waterlogged, making it hard for farmers to do their work. The rains could also increase crop diseases and make it difficult to transport farm produce to the market. In the worst cases, there could be landslides in hilly areas and damage to buildings and roads.
Specific areas expecting the heaviest rains include Makueni, Kajiado, Machakos, Nairobi, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Isiolo, Nyandaru, Nyeri, parts of Taita Taveta, Laikipia, Tana River, Garissa, Wajir, Marsabit, and Narok counties. These places should prepare properly and make sure drainage systems are cleared to avoid flooding.
The rains are caused by the Intertropical Convergence Zone moving south across East Africa, bringing extra moisture that creates more clouds and rainfall. This is a seasonal pattern that happens every year, but this time it is expected to be stronger than usual.
As things stand, farmers and county governments are hoping that the rains will come at the right time and at the right strength. Too much rain too fast could be dangerous, while too little would defeat the purpose of the entire season. For now, Kenyans, especially those in farming and pastoral areas, should keep a close eye on weather updates and make sure their properties and farms are ready for what is coming.
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