Nairobi – 7 November 2025

Kenya’s meteorological agency has warned of possible isolated flooding and landslides in parts of western Kenya, where heavy rains are expected to continue into November.

The latest weather outlook, released on Tuesday by acting director Edward Muriuki, shows that regions around the Lake Victoria Basin, the highlands west of the Rift Valley, and parts of the Central and South Rift Valley are likely to receive near to above-average rainfall in the coming weeks.

“The Highlands West and East of the Rift Valley and the Lake Basin are specifically noted as likely to receive occasional moderate rainfall, requiring caution due to already saturated soils,” Mr Muriuki said in the statement.

He noted that persistent October rains have left soils waterlogged, heightening the risk of rockslides, landslides, and localised flooding in several western counties. Residents in flood-prone or hilly areas, he warned, should remain alert, as the ground can no longer absorb additional water.

Uneven Rainfall Patterns Across the Country

While western regions brace for more rain, the Highlands East of the Rift Valley, including Nairobi, as well as the Southeastern lowlands, Coastal areas, and most of the Northeast, are likely to experience near to below-average rainfall.

“Rainfall will be unevenly distributed, with intermittent dry spells in several parts of the country,” Muriuki said. “There is a possibility of localised floods over the western region and prolonged dry spells in the east.”

Temperatures are expected to remain higher than usual across much of the country — a pattern that could influence both the intensity and duration of the rainfall.

Tragedy in Chesongoch

The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) also extended its condolences to families affected by the Chesongoch landslides in Marakwet East, where more than 20 people were killed after days of heavy rainfall.

“We continue to monitor conditions in the region closely and will issue timely updates to prevent similar tragedies,” the agency said.

Safety Warnings and Water Concerns

The department has urged the public to take extra precautions during the rainy period. People are advised not to walk or drive through flooded areas and to avoid sheltering under trees or near metal windows during thunderstorms due to the risk of lightning strikes — especially in Kisii, Kisumu, and Narok.

For water resources, KMD warned that depressed rainfall in the eastern parts of the country may leave communities struggling to meet their water needs in the coming months.

The warning serves as both a safety advisory and a sobering reminder of Kenya’s increasingly unpredictable weather patterns — where drought and floods often occur within the same season.