The Meteorological Department of Kiambu County has foreseen that the county will experience increased rainfall over the next four days.
County Director of Meteorological Services Magdalene Gateri said isolated heavy rains are expected from Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, January 8, 2024.
Giving a weekly forecast valid from the 2nd of January to Monday, the 8th of January, Gateri noted that occasional cloudiness with rainfall is expected over the weekend.
Heavy rains are being experienced in areas of Kiamworia, Kigajo ward in Gatundu South, Kagwe area and Githunguri areas.
The director called upon residents to make maximum use of the rain by harvesting rainwater.
The Ministry of Environment and Forestry weather outlook for January 2024 indicates that Highlands East of the Rift Valley and Central Kenya which includes Kiambu are likely to experience occasional rainfall with some breaks during the month.
The rainfall is likely to be near to above the long-term average amounts received during the same month in other years.
During the just-ended October-November-December Seasonal Rainfall, Kiambu was among the counties that were affected by landslides and mudslides.
Several houses were destroyed by a mudslide in Site village and two people were also killed in Riara village after a mudslide buried their house
Bernard Chanzu on behalf of the Director of Kenya Meteorological Department, named the potential impacts likely to be experienced this month in areas of agriculture and food security, water resources, and the environment sectors.
“The sunny and dry weather conditions to be experienced in the next three months will be favorable for crop harvesting as well as land preparations in readiness for the coming planting season in the agricultural areas, and the public is encouraged to seek guidance from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development,” he said.
He added that the rains expected at the beginning of January in the southern half of the country will sustain water availability, and thus the public is encouraged to adopt rainwater harvesting and storage practices.
“The increased inflow into hydropower reservoirs is expected to boost hydropower generation and contribute to groundwater recharge for geothermal power production,” he said.
Chanzu noted that water availability for both human and livestock use is expected to decline further, especially in the ASAL areas, as a result of the dry weather conditions.
Four days ago, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Climate Prediction and Applications Center (ICPAC) said the greater part of the Horn of Africa is expected to receive heavy rains between January and March 2024, with the weather pattern following recent El Nino rains.
By Wangari Ndirangu
