Laikipia West Residents Advised To Prepare For More Rain This Week

By Our Correspondent

Rainfall has increased across several parts of Laikipia over the past two weeks, and meteorologists now expect the wet conditions to persist into the first week of July, particularly in western and eastern parts of the county.

The Kenya Meteorological Department has forecast continued rainfall over parts of Laikipia West and sections of Laikipia East between June 30 and July 6, with residents advised to prepare for cloudy mornings, occasional afternoon showers and isolated thunderstorms in several areas.

According to the weekly county forecast, showers and thunderstorms are likely to affect Marmanet, Sipili, Mutara Orchards, Ol Pejeta, Umande, Nanyuki and neighbouring areas, while most parts of Laikipia North are expected to experience predominantly sunny intervals throughout the week.

The forecast indicates that daytime temperatures will rise slightly, ranging between 23 and 28 degrees Celsius, while night-time temperatures are expected to fall to between five and 16 degrees Celsius, with temperatures below 10 degrees likely around Nyahururu, Marmanet and areas adjacent to Mt Kenya.

County Director of Meteorological Services David Njiru urged residents to remain vigilant and use the weather information to plan their daily activities, especially those whose livelihoods depend on weather conditions.

“The forecast indicates that rainfall will continue over parts of Laikipia, particularly in the western and eastern regions, and residents should remain informed by following the daily weather updates issued by the Kenya Meteorological Department to support safe planning and decision-making,” said Njiru.

The department noted that much of the expected rainfall during the seven-day forecast period is likely to occur in the second half of the week, although cumulative rainfall amounts are expected to remain below 40 millimetres across most parts of the county.

The expected weather conditions are likely to benefit farmers undertaking crop production by improving soil moisture, while livestock keepers may also experience improved pasture conditions in areas receiving consistent rainfall. However, isolated thunderstorms could temporarily disrupt outdoor activities and transport in affected locations.

Meteorological observations also show that rainfall has increased across several monitoring stations compared with the previous week. Areas including Kinamba, Sipili, Mutara Orchards, Mugie Conservancy, Ol Pejeta and Nanyuki recorded light to moderate rainfall, signalling a gradual increase in precipitation across the county.

Njiru encouraged farmers to align planting, harvesting and other agricultural activities with the evolving weather outlook while remaining alert to changing conditions, particularly during afternoon hours when thunderstorms are most likely.

“Weather information is an important planning tool for every sector, from agriculture and transport to tourism and disaster preparedness. We encourage residents, institutions and county agencies to make full use of these forecasts and monitor the daily updates because weather conditions can change from day to day,” he said.

The department further advised motorists to exercise caution during periods of rainfall due to the possibility of slippery roads and reduced visibility, while residents in colder highland areas were encouraged to take appropriate measures against low night-time temperatures.

The Kenya Meteorological Department issues weekly county forecasts to support planning across agriculture, water resources, transport, health, disaster risk management and other weather-sensitive sectors, while recommending that the public also follows its daily 24-hour forecasts for updated information.