The country is still expecting heavy rains from October 2023 to January 2024 due to the El-Nino phenomenon. According to Kiambu Meteorological Director Magdalene Gateri, a preliminary forecast of the weather pattern indicates that the Pacific Ocean is warming, with higher temperatures recorded in the central Pacific pointing to signs of El Nino-related torrential rains. ‘I would like people to understand that El Nino does not always mean the rain; what normally happens is that we look at the signs and often observe the ocean behaviour and reports on a range of El-Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) indicators’, she said. Gateri was updating heads of department on the weather situation and the upcoming El Nino during a corruption prevention meeting held at the Kiambu County Commissioner’s office. She explained that since the Meteorological Department issued a warning on September 2, 2023, people are asking where the El Nino rains are. ‘The season has not yet started; the rains are currently in the western region around Lake Victoria. Gateri confirmed that for Kiambu in the first week and second week of October, the duration of the onset will see rain going above average, meaning the normal rains that are usually supposed to be experienced will increase more. ‘Some regions in Kiambu will experience rainfall as high as 500 millimetres per season, which is way above average, and once they start, we will not be discussing how they are going to end as the season might last up to January 2024,’ she said. Giving the outlook for October-December 2023 for Kiambu, Gateri confirmed above-normal (average) rainfall that will be well distributed in both time and space, while the seasonal rains are expected to have an early onset starting between the 1st to 2nd weeks of October 2023 and is likely to continue in January 2024. This week, running from September 19 to 25, Gateri said most mornings will be cloudy, giving way to sunny intervals in the afternoon. The lower-ground areas in the county are expected to receive 0-5 millimetres of rain, while some high-ground areas cumulatively are expected to receive 10mm of rainfall in the whole week. During the meeting, Gateri asked departments and sector heads such as Agriculture, Livestock Development and Food Security Sectors, Environment and Natural Resources Sectors, Water, Irrigation and Sanitation, Energy, Disaster Management Sector, Health, Transport, and Public Safety sectors to address both positive and negative impacts that might come with the El-Nino rains but also advised residents to take maximum precautions and be prepared. Kiambu County has four broad topographical zones: the Upper Highlands are found in Lari constituency, and they are an extension of the Aberdare ranges that lie at an altitude of 1,800-2,550 metres above sea level. Lower Highlands zone (lies between 1,500 – 1,800 metres above sea level) covers Limuru and parts of Gatundu North and Gatundu South, Githunguri, and Kabete constituencies, characterised by hills and high-altitude plains (plateaus). Even as the whole country prepares for the upcoming El-Nino rains, the Ministry of Health Principal Secretary State Department of Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muriuki has today said that they will be collaborating closely with county governments and partners to ensure readiness and capacity to establish temporary health facilities in areas where populations may be evacuated, rescued, or where facilities may become inaccessible due to the floods. ‘Stockpiles of emergency response health supplies and materials are readily available. Health facilities County Emergency Operation Centres are expected to be activated promptly, with 18 already established, and all counties are encouraged to establish and operationalize one’, Muriuki said.

Source: Kenya News Agency