National

Met department forecasts sunny intervals as heavy rains subside

People struggle to walk over flooded areas in Garissa County. (Photo: Save the Children)

By Mary Wambui | Saturday, May 11, 2024

The prediction provides ideal weather for the schools reopening, as several schools are expected to have their students resume over the weekend.

The Kenya Meteorological Department is now predicting sunny intervals across the country accompanied by a significant reduction in rainfall in the coming week.

This follows weeks of heavy rains that have caused flooding in various parts of the country which have claimed lives and led to loss of property and destruction of infrastructure.

Keep reading

"Sunny intervals are expected across most parts of the country, with a significant reduction in rainfall likely across various regions. However, occasional rainfall is also expected, particularly in Western, Rift Valley, Central Kenya and the Lake Victoria Basin," the department said on Saturday.

The prediction provides ideal weather for the schools reopening, as several schools are expected to have their students resume over the weekend.

On Thursday, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the government is actively monitoring the weather situation in the country to ensure normal resumption of schools next week.

"This is being done by Regional and County Directors of Education who are working closely with the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) in coordinating those efforts," he said in a statement.

The schools will reopen on May 13 following predictions that the extensive rainfall experienced in recent weeks will continue till the end of the month with much less intensity.

"You will be seeing movement of students, particularly those in boarding schools happening between Sunday and Monday.."

At the same time, the Ministry of Transport has assured parents and students that necessary mechanisms have been put in place to facilitate smooth movement even as some areas continue to receive rainfall.

The education ministry assured that schools in parts of Nairobi County where many families were displaced will be repaired.

"There's a total of 21 counties where the impact of the floods was very massive. In terms of affected schools, we have had 1,957 schools, just slightly below 2,000 schools and we have put in place enough mechanisms to allow our students to resume learning," Ps Omollo further added.

He called on Kenyans to heed government advisories to mitigate against loss of lives.