Kenya meteorological service warns of heavy April rains and flooding

by Frankline OduorThursday April 2, 2026

Flood-hit streets in Nairobi’s CBD and waterlogged grounds in Parklands are a stark preview of what could lie ahead as Kenya’s long rains gather pace. Kenyans.co.ke Ma3Route

Kenya’s ongoing long rains are forecast to persist across most parts of the country through April, with rainfall expected to start off slightly lighter before strengthening later in the month and raising the risk of flooding, the latest Kenya Met outlook shows.

People living in Rift Valley counties, the Lake Victoria Basin and nearby areas are likely to see widespread showers, with thunderstorms in some places, especially along the border regions with Uganda and South Sudan.

Nairobi, Nyandarua, Laikipia, Kiambu, Embu, and other counties that are East of the Rift Valley are expected to receive more than average long-term rainfalls, occasioned by storms and cold temperatures during the day. 

Kenya Met said the long rains are being driven largely by the northward movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which pulls moist air from the Indian Ocean and the Congo Air-mass over Kenya’s highlands and helps sustain the rainfall pattern over the central and western highlands.

Above-average rainfall is also expected in parts of northeastern Kenya, including Marsabit, Wajir, and Mandera, while the coast is projected to receive below-average precipitation.

Residents in the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, and northwestern Kenya have been advised to prepare for near-average rainfall during the period, with the department urging farmers to improve field drainage, clear furrows, and avoid activities that may compact already-wet soils.

This typically covers Western, Nyanza, Nairobi, Central, and Rift Valley counties.

Further, the eastern parts of Turkana and Samburu counties are expected to receive near-to-below-average rainfall.

Meanwhile, several areas in Marsabit, Wajir, Garissa, and Isiolo are likely to experience near-to below-normal rainfall, with occasional storms reported across these regions.

Temperature

Kenya Met also said in the outlook that most parts of the country will remain warm and wet, with daytime temperatures ranging between 20°C and 32°C.

Highland areas will stay cooler because of their elevation, while coastal and lowland regions in the north and northeast are expected to post higher daytime readings.

Night temperatures, meanwhile, will be lower in the highlands and warmer along the coast and in northeastern Kenya.

With flooding witnessed in March likely to recur, Kenya Met has called on water resource managers to monitor river levels closely, warning that April’s rains could again submerge already affected areas.

“The continued April rains may cause renewed flooding in some areas. Water agencies should maintain round-the-clock monitoring of river levels and clear clogged drainage and riparian obstructions,” the outlook read in part.

Road agencies have also been placed on alert, with the expected rainfall likely to disrupt transport and damage roads and other infrastructure in several parts of the country.