The Kenya Meteorological Department, on Wednesday, January 1, 2020, warned Kenyans that flooding was expected to persist into the new year.
According to a report by the Daily Nation, the weatherman warned that 14 counties were at risk of flooding and that heavy rainfall would continue to be experienced in the first two weeks of January.
The regions listed include the south of the Lake Victoria basin, Southern Rift Valley, the southeastern lowlands and parts of Central Kenya.
Counties found in the regions include Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Trans Nzoia, Baringo, Nandi, Laikipia, Nakuru, Narok, Kericho and Kakamega.
The department further noted that the rainfall levels would surpass recorded levels in the January period of previous years
Kenya Met noted that the rain would be light in the morning but grow intense at night.
Wajir, Garissa and Isiolo would, however, receive moderate rainfall before experiencing sunny and dry conditions towards the end of the month.
Two counties, Mandera and Marsabit, are expected to stay dry throughout January.
The report also indicated that most parts of the country received an above-average level of rainfall across October through to December, a figure higher than the same period in the past years.
By the end of November 2019, more than 54 people had lost their lives in West Pokot County due to landslides as a result of heavy rainfall.
In December, Government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna revealed that 132 people had died as a result of flooding across the country.
“Approximately 330,000 people have been affected by the rains that continue to pound various parts of the country…17,000 have also been displaced,” Oguna stated at the time
