• The rest of the country will have a mix of cloudy and sunny weather, except the Coast, where there’s a chance of light rain on this weekend.
• Ngong-based Ngong-based Igad Climate Prediction and Applications Centre recently said rains will decrease across the country this month, except in western Kenya and the Coast.
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Large swathes of the country will be under a heavy cloud cover for the next one week, the weatherman has said.
Only western Kenya and Rift Valley will have significant rainfall.
Central Kenya, including Nairobi, could enjoy chilly showers on Friday, but only in high ground areas.
“Rainfall is expected to continue over some parts of the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, North-western Kenya, the Rift Valley and the Coast,” said Dr David Gikungu, head of the Kenya Meteorological Services.
This region covers Siaya, Kisumu, Homabay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Trans Nzoia, Baringo, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Nandi, Nakuru, Narok, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia and West Pokot Counties.
“Intermittent cold and cloudy conditions are expected over some parts of the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Southeastern lowlands and the Rift Valley,” he said.
The regions include Nyandarua, Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang'a, Kiambu, Meru, Embu, Tharaka and Nairobi counties.
The rest of the country will have a mix of cloudy and sunny weather, except the Coast, where there’s a chance of light rain over the weekend.
The five-day forecast ends on Monday. Met has not issued any forecast for this month.
However, the Ngong-based Igad Climate Prediction and Applications Centre recently said rains will decrease across the country this month, except in Western Kenya and the Coast.
The drier-than-usual weather will continue across most parts to October.
The regional forecaster, which covers 11 countries including Kenya, issued two forecasts, one covering August and the second from August to October.
The August forecast showed most of Kenya will be dry. The country will also be warmer than usual.
Kenya normally goes dry in August, which allows farmers to harvest.
However, Western Kenya will continue to receive rains.
“Wetter than usual conditions expected over most parts of …western and coastal Kenya,” Icpac said.
“The rest of the region is generally dry during the month of August.”
The agency predicted dry weather will continue and spread to most places toward October.
“[There are] high chances of drier than usual conditions indicated over eastern horn of Africa during the August to October season, while wetter than usual conditions likely over most parts of the northern sector,” the agency said.
“The corresponding seasonal temperatures are expected to be warmer than usual with the highest probabilities over the eastern regions.”
Most of Kenya falls on the eastern side of the horn of Africa.
Kenya has had a relatively successful cropping season that has helped bring down the cost of food.
According to the latest National Food and Nutrition Security report, the prices of all cereals, except beans, has dropped.
“Apart from beans, the prices of other cereals and pulses have generally been declining since January 2024. The overall gradual decline in staple food prices continues to improve household food access and availability, with cross-border imports and prospects of harvests from the current season likely to maintain price declines in the coming months,” the food and nutrition security report said.
It revealed that the improved crop production last year and improved local supplies of most food staples continue to impact on the importation of most basic staples.
The food security report also showed a decrease in the prices of basic food commodities, particularly cereals and pulses.
This trend is attributed to the decision of several farmers, who had been holding onto their stocks in anticipation of higher prices, to release their supplies into the market.
The report indicated that the national food security has improved since May as most of the staple foods were available both at household and markets.
However, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the May 2024 Consumer Price Index, which tracks the changes in prices of key food staples, increased slightly by one per cent to 5.1 percent compared to April index of five per cent.