- In a statement, Kenya Met nontheless advised residents within Nairobi and its environs to stay weather prepared and drive safely.
- Friday's forecast indicated that the city would experience very heavy rainfall.
Image: FILE
The Kenya Metrological Department has issued forecast update for Nairobi saying residents should expect a reduction in rain intensity on Saturday.
The weatherman said Nairobi will experience cloudy skies and light showers of less than 5mm to moderate 5-20mm rains.
In a statement, Kenya Met nontheless advised residents within Nairobi and its environs to stay weather prepared and drive safely.
"We are expecting a significant reduction in rainfall this Saturday, with light (<5mm) to moderate (5-20mm) showers and cloudy skies forecasted," the notice said.
Friday's forecast indicated that the city would experience very heavy rainfall.
Motorists plying Mombasa Road bore the brunt of the rains after a section of the road past JKIA near City Cabanas got flooded.
Video seen by the Star showed several vehicles stranded as the flooding situation rendered the section of the road impassable.
As of Saturday, 219 people had been confirmed dead due to severe weather conditions. Nine deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours.
Mumulatively, 164 people have been reported injured while 72 are missing since the onset of the flooding crisis.
Data from the Interior Ministry shows that the rains have affected 206,240 people and displaced 41,248 households.
The situation could worsen once Cyclone Hidaya makes landfall at the Kenya coast any time.
Kenya Met confirmed on Saturday that Cyclone Hidaya had already hit the Tanzania coast and could make headway to Kenya.
"Current observations indicate that Tropical Cyclone Hidaya has made landfall on the coast of Tanzania. However, there is another depression developing behind it, which the Department is monitoring closely," Kenya Met said.
President William Ruto in an address to the nation on Friday said the devastating torrential rains have caused injuries to many people and wreaked havoc on property, infrastructure and livelihoods.
"The weight of tragic events in recent weeks has tested our nation's resilience in the wake of unprecedented challenges [and] claimed 210 lives as of today," the President said.
He directed ministries, departments and agencies to work closely with the National Disaster Operations Centre and Security Agencies to ensure a whole of government approach in managing the prevailing crisis.
He said the government in partnership with stakeholders has put in place adequate measures to provide temporary shelter, food and non-food essential items for the displaced.
The Head of State said water volumes in the Seven Forks Hydro-Electric power dams have hit historic highs, with Masinga and Kiambere dams already spilling over.
Ruto said the controlled spillage was threatening to overflow into neighbouring settlements and may cause devastation downstream in Garissa and Tana River counties.
“Sadly, we have not seen the last of this perilous period, as the situation is expected to escalate. Meteorological reports paint a dire picture," he said.
"The rains will persist, increasing both in duration and intensity for the rest of this month and possibly after,” the President said.
On Friday, the Meteorological Department Director David Gikungu said in a five-day forecast that the heavy rainfall pounding most parts of the country is expected to continue over several parts of the country.
He said heavy rainfall is likely to occur in some parts of the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, the South-eastern lowlands, North-western and North-eastern Kenya.