Met Department w*rns of El Niño rains beginning October
The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that there is a 99 per cent chance that the country will experience El Niño rains beginning October.
El Niño is characterised by above-average rainfall, occurring every three to five years, causing flooding in the affected areas.
The weatherman has warned people living in the lowlands to be on the lookout for floods and move to safer places.
Among the most affected regions will be the Lake Victoria Basin region, Kisii, Elgeyo Mrakwet, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Vihiga, Laikipia, Nakuru and Narok counties.
“In the highlands east of the Rift Valley, Nairobi included, rainfall is expected throughout the season above the season's long-term average. The rainfall will be well distributed in terms of space,” said the department.
The Kenya Red Cross has called on Kenyans and the government to put in measures to avert disaster when the rains begin.
"Flooding is a quick-onset disaster. We must put in place interventions that will help us respond quickly when a disaster happens. This includes prepositioning materials, training responders and sensitising communities on what actions to take," Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Ahmed Idris said.
"We are delighted that the government is coordinating this early response preparedness through the Meteorological Department and other agencies. As Kenya Red Cross we will work with the Meteorological Department and other relevant agencies to cascade this information lowest level in communities to support effective preparedness at all levels."
