El Niño: Parts Of The Country Set To Be Worst Hit
El Niño makes a return this year as this month heavy rains than usual are expected across the country.
The El Niño phenomenon typically occurs every 3 to 5 years and causes excess rainfall and flooding in the East Africa region.
The most recent El Niño memory can be traced back back in 1997 and in 2006.
The Met Department mapped out several areas likely to be worst hit by flood in the country this year.
The areas that have been identified as flooding hotspots in the country include Nyakach, Nyando, lower areas of River Nzoia, Winam Gulf and lower areas of River Sondu in Western Kenya.
In the Rift Valley region, the areas likely to be affected by flooding include Gilgil, Narok town and Suswa while the coastal towns of Mwatate, and Tana River Delta have also been identified as high-risk areas.
Other mapped flooding hotspots are Lodwar and Lokichar in north-eastern Kenya where flash floods are expected to be prevalent due to a high number of seasonal rivers, as well as major urban centres like Nairobi, Naivasha, Nakuru and Mombasa.
Landslides are likely to occur in parts characterised by water-logged soils such as West Pokot, Kericho, EIgeyo Marakwet, Mt Elgon, Narok, Nakuru, Baringo, Murang’a and areas around Kilungu in Makueni County.
1997 heavy El Niño rains
The 1997-98 heavy rain event occurred in July and sustained until February 1998 against the expectations on many.
Many people, animals lost their lives, property destroyed and livelihoods adversely affected.
However, Met Department’s projections has not indicated this year’s heavy rains event as severe as the 1997.
The rains are set to peak in mid-October and go on until January next year.
El Nino rains makes a return this year as this month heavy rains than usual are expected across the country.
