Kenya's Meteorological Department has warned of the likely onset of heavy rains this week in at least seven regions of the country and has also issued an alert to residents of the central highlands, western Kenya, the Rift Valley and the coast for possible flooding.
"Expect widespread rainfall across the country, with heavy downpours expected in the above regions. Be prepared for potential flooding in these areas," reads part of the department's statement. In some counties where the rains are slow to arrive, temperatures will tend to rise further, exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, as a result of the El Niño cyclone: according to Kenya Met, this will occur in the northern and north-eastern counties of Turkana, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Isiolo, Garissa, and the coastal counties of Tana River, Lamu, Kilifi, Mombasa and Kwale. Night temperatures in these areas are expected to exceed 25 degrees Celsius.
In most parts of the country, however, the temperature will be between 20 and 30 degrees. In some mountainous areas of the Rift Valley and Mount Kenya, temperatures below 10 degrees will be recorded.
In the last week of March, in Nairobi and other neighbouring counties, heavy rains caused destruction of property, disruption of business and damage to roads, as well as deaths and dozens of displaced families.