Stop the doubts and prepare for El Niño, experts warn

A man pedals a bicycle through stagnant water after a downpour at Lake View Estate in Bamburi, Mombasa County, October 12, 2015. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP.

What you need to know:

  • The weatherman had predicted that most parts of the country would receive heavy rains by Monday, but this did not happen, and hence the doubts.
  • However, weather experts are calling on Kenyans to heed the warning and prepare for El Niño rains.
  • The Coast and Nyanza regions are among the areas that have been experiencing rains over the past one week.

There is confusion as to whether the rains in different parts of the country are the result of the much-publicised El Niño.

Or are they the short rains the country normally receives between October and December?

The weatherman had predicted that most parts of the country would receive heavy rains by Monday, but this did not happen, and hence the doubts.

A report by the Kenya Meteorological Service released on Tuesday last week indicated that parts of the Mount Kenya region, Nairobi and the southeastern lowland areas of Mtito Andei and Kibwezi would start receiving rains from Thursday.

Only a few areas in these regions received the rains, and questions have since been raised as to whether the said El Niño is real or just a hoax.

The Coast and Nyanza regions are among the areas that have been experiencing rains over the past one week.

HEED WARNING

However, weather experts are calling on Kenyans to heed the warning and prepare for El Niño.

“El Niño is actually here and people should start taking measures to mitigate against its effects,” Mr Samuel Mwangi, the deputy director of the Kenya Meteorological Department, told the Nation.

He said the rains would come early this season, unlike in other years.

“The short rains season usually starts towards the end of October. However, this time, the rains have come early and where they have been received, they are slightly heavier compared (with) other years. This is a sign that (the) effects of El Niño is being felt,” Mr Mwangi said.

He noted that the storms have been hitting parts of coastal and northern Kenya. In Garissa County, floods have already displaced several people.

“These are signs of heavy rainfall coming because such downpours are rarely experienced in Garissa,” Mr Mwangi said.

“Before October 20, Kenyans should expect substantial rains, which would continue all the way to December and even in January,” he added.

Heavy rains have also been experienced in Trans Nzoia and Uasin Gishu counties and farmers are complaining that continuous showers are interfering with maize harvesting, according to Mr Mwangi.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

"When you look at the bigger picture, we rarely have such rains in early October," he insists.

Even if Nairobi and its environs have not received the rains as predicted, Mr Mwangi said: “The signs are there and rains are surely coming.”

Other areas where some showers have been reported include Kisumu, Kakamega, Homa Bay, Busia, Marsabit, Isiolo, Mombasa, Meru, Nyeri, Kericho, and Kisii.

The government has formed a multi-agency team, coordinated by the National Disaster Operations Centre, to deal with disaster response during the rains.

This team has officials from the ICT ministry, the Kenya Red Cross Society and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

In Nairobi, residents are anticipating a disaster in areas where contractors are busy digging trenches to construct roads, culverts or drainage systems, just in case it really rains.

In the Mukuru kwa Njenga slum in Nairobi, the only road that people use is under construction. The contractor has left open pits that locals say pose a major risk to them.