Climate change will not cease to provide surprises even at the Equator. After the disasters caused by the exceptional floods in April and May, the so-called wet season, the equatorial winter, will have the coldest temperatures ever, according to the Kenya Meteorological Service.
If on the coast it means reaching a seasonal low of 20 degrees, in the Rift Valley and in the north it has often meant getting close to zero, and even in the capital Nairobi, between June and July, the thermometer reads as low as 5-6 degrees. The latest weather forecast issued by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) also paints a picture of moderate to high temperatures, accompanied by varying levels of rainfall in different regions.

The counties of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kiambu and other areas of central Kenya and the coast are expected to experience temperatures between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius, starting this weekend. For western Kenya, however, temperatures below 20 degrees are expected, but not by much.
The Kenya Meteorological Department, in its forecast for the coming week, has however highlighted the likelihood of showers, thunderstorms and sunny spells in different parts of the country. Areas such as the Central Highlands, western Kenya and the Rift Valley are expected to continue to receive rainfall during this time. The Lake Victoria basin, which includes counties such as Kisumu, Homabay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Siaya, Vihiga, Busia, Kericho, Bomet and Kakamega, will also receive moderate to light rainfall. Higher than usual temperatures could create problems in the semi-arid regions bordering Ethiopia and Somalia, and emergencies for agriculture and livestock. The important thing is that, as the heat rises, especially in these areas, it will continue to rain occasionally until August. The spectre of the great drought of past years, with livestock and even wildlife deaths, is still a bitter memory for Kenya and its wildlife.