Met department warns of heavy downpour until weekend

Heavy rainfall which has so far led to the death of 132 people is set to continue for the next two days, the meteorological department has warned.

“The wet weather being experienced over the Southern, Central (including Nairobi) and Western parts of the country is expected to continue,” the director of the Kenya Meteorological Department David Kigungu said in a statement to newsrooms.

Kigungu noted that moderate and heavy rainfall will intensify between today and Friday 6.

“From Saturday 7, the intensity and the coverage are likely to decrease,” he said.

Areas of concern in the Rift Valley region are Narok, Kajiado, Bomet, Kericho, Nakuru, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Baringo and West Pokot

In Nyanza, Kisumu, Homa Bay and Siaya while be hit hard while in Western region heavy rains will be in Bungoma, Kakamega and Busia.

Central parts of Kenya expected to experience heavy downpour are Meru, Embu, Nyeri, Kiambu, Nayndarua, Murang’a.

Machakos, Kitui and Makueni counties have also been identified as areas where there will be heavy downpour.

While in the coast region, Taita Taveta is the only area on the spot over the expected heavy rains.

Residents from the said areas where floods and landslides are prone, have been asked to vacate to safer grounds.

Yesterday, the government spokesman Cyrus Oguna said that the government had designated camps in all affected areas where people can seek refuge until the rains stop.

The public has also been asked to be cautious of the rains which are expected to continue throughout the month of December with occasional breaks.

The ongoing rains have already left a trail of destruction which has affected hundreds of thousands and killed over 100 people.

Cyrus Oguna said that at least 132 people died because of flash floods and landslides as a result of the ongoing rainfall.

“Approximately 330,000 people have been adversely affected across the country and 17,000 have been displaced,” he said.

He added that 11, 000 livestock were swept away and crops of unknown value have been destroyed.