By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, 27 December 2025 - The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) has issued a fresh heavy rain advisory, warning that 13 counties will experience significant rainfall from Saturday, Dec. 27 to Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025.
The alert, part of Advisory 04/2025, projects rainfall amounts exceeding 20 mm in 24 hours, intensifying to more than 30 mm later in the period, with risks of flooding in low-lying and urban areas.
Which Counties Are on Alert?
The 13 counties explicitly named in the latest warning include:
- Migori
- Homa Bay
- Kisii
- Narok
- Kajiado
- Makueni
- Machakos
- Nairobi City
- Kericho
- Bomet
- Southern parts of Kitui
- Taita-Taveta
- Kwale
These areas cover parts of the South Eastern Lowlands, the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin and the Coastal region, indicating a broad geo-climatic reach of the rain system.
Residents in these counties have been urged to prepare for potential flash floods, poor visibility, and surface water accumulation, particularly in flood-prone and riverine zones. Authorities also advised drivers and pedestrians to avoid crossing moving water and to seek shelter ahead of thunderstorms.
What About Northern Kenya and Other Regions?
Wider meteorological forecasts and earlier KMD forecasts show that rainfall is not confined to those areas alone.
More from Kenya
Periodic weather advisories and forecast charts in December highlighted showers and thunderstorms expected in the North Eastern and North Western regions of Kenya, including counties such as Turkana, Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo, Mandera and Wajir, often in combination with strong southeasterly winds over the northern sector.
Recent five-day outlooks from KMD indicate that even when northern counties are not in the immediate heavy-rain advisory, northern and northwestern areas have been experiencing scattered showers and strong wind conditions, typical of transitional seasonal patterns later in the year.
The current rainfall pattern reflects Kenya’s short rains season, which typically spans October to December.
Earlier 2025 forecasts suggested that rainfall would reach different parts of the country, from the Lake Victoria basin to the Rift Valley and eastern highlands, with variability from year to year based on broader climatic influences.
However, recent assessments have also noted that rainfall amounts this season might be depressed overall due to climate drivers such as a mild La Niña pattern and near-average Indian Ocean conditions, which can reduce the intensity of expected rains in some parts of the country.
KMD and county disaster operators continue to urge residents in all regions, especially low-lying urban settlements, flood-prone valleys and river banks, to stay alert for rapid changes in conditions.
The public has been reminded to monitor updates via official Kenya Met forecasts and local county advisories as rainfall patterns remain dynamic.
