Kenya is likely to see only a few weeks of rain before dry weather returns, potentially leading to a hot and dry January, according to the Meteorological Department. This aligns with a UN report predicting severe hunger in Kenya by early next year.
Meteorological Director David Gikungu attributes the delay in rains to a negative Indian Ocean Dipole, where cooler ocean temperatures cause dry conditions in East Africa. Rain is expected to arrive by early November, mainly in areas like the Coast, northeast, eastern Kenya, and Mt. Kenya, but will be below seasonal averages.
The report also notes La Niña’s possible return, which historically contributes to drier-than-normal conditions. Some regions, including parts of the Rift Valley and Lake Victoria basin, may experience near-average to above-average rainfall, providing some relief for counties like Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, and Kisumu. However, overall, crop production is expected to suffer due to the projected dry conditions.
