Kiambu County is expected to receive moderate to high rainfall levels this week April 7 to April 13, according to the Kenya Meteorological department, rainfall distribution within the county will be ranging from 20mm to 50mm through till Monday.
The data is recorded in Kenya Met’s weekly forecast update, which explains projected weather conditions in different parts of the country.
Daytime temperatures within Kiambu will fall within the range of 25 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius, with lows of 10 degrees Celsius to 15 degrees Celsius in the evenings.
“Rainfall is expected to continue in several parts of the country, particularly in Central Highlands, South Rift Valley, South eastern lowlands, Coastal region, western Kenya, North Eastern Kenya,” Kenya Met said in a statement in a statement released on Tuesday.
The department further advised residents in high altitude areas of Kiambu including Limuru, Kikuyu, Lari and parts of Gatundu North to prepare for cold mornings and occasional mist, especially in the early hours of the day. Farmers were encouraged to take advantage of the rains to plant seasonal crops, while also putting in place proper drainage to prevent waterlogging.
Kiambu County Disaster Management and Emergency teams were also urged to remain on alert, particularly in areas prone to flooding such as sections of Ruiru, Juja and Thika. In previous rainy seasons, poor drainage and blocked waterways have led to temporary flooding, disrupting transport and business activities.
The ongoing March–April–May (MAM) long rains season is expected to peak in April, with Kenya Met indicating that several counties in the Central Highlands are likely to experience near to above-average rainfall.
In line with this, the County Government of Kiambu issued an alert in March informing residents of ongoing measures to mitigate any cases of flooding. “The county has established a disaster response unit comprising backhoe, excavators and flush unit deployed to drain flood waters in the affected areas,” read part of their statement.
The county government further urged locals to follow advisories from the Kenya Meteorological department for their safety.
by Rose Muthoni
