Scorching days ahead: most of Kenya to stay dry, but a few regions could see surprise showers.
Kenya is bracing for another hot and mostly dry week, according to the latest forecast from the Kenya Meteorological Department (Kenya Met). Yet, a few areas might buck the trend. The Central Highlands, Western Kenya, the Rift Valley, and parts of the South-eastern Lowlands are expected to receive scattered rainfall. But here's where it gets interesting — despite these local rains, most of the country won’t see much relief from the heat.
Kenya Met reports that daytime temperatures are expected to surpass 30°C along the Coast, as well as in North-eastern and North-western Kenya. Even several pockets of the South-eastern Lowlands, Rift Valley, and Western Kenya could experience similarly intense heat. In contrast, night-time temperatures could dip below 10°C in the Central Highlands, North and Central Rift Valley, Western Kenya, and near the majestic slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro — creating a dramatic day-to-night temperature swing that may catch some residents off guard.
Looking back, last week brought only patchy rains across the country, with overall rainfall amounts continuing to decline. The highest recorded total in seven days was 45.9 mm at Kavingo Station in Kitui County. In terms of temperature extremes, Mandera baked under a 37.2°C high on November 25, while Nyahururu shivered through a chilly 4.6°C low on November 27. Those numbers highlight the striking contrast between Kenya’s regions — a nuance that tells a bigger story about shifting weather patterns.
Kenya Met’s earlier forecast on November 29 echoed similar expectations: a predominantly sunny and dry spell from November 25 to December 1, with possible rainfall in localized regions such as the Central Highlands, Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, Coast, and South-eastern Lowlands. The warning was clear — while the heat persists, a few lucky pockets may still see refreshing showers.
Once again, Kenya Met highlighted regions expecting temperatures above the 30°C mark — the Coast, North-eastern, and North-western areas, along with parts of the South-eastern Lowlands, Rift Valley, and Western Kenya. Meanwhile, cooler than usual conditions, with lows below 10°C, could sweep over the Central Highlands, North and Central Rift Valley, Western Kenya, and areas close to Mt. Kilimanjaro.
The forecast suggests a continuation of largely dry and warm conditions countrywide, punctuated by isolated rainfall in specific areas. Residents in regions familiar with intense daytime heat and cold nights are urged to take precautions — stay hydrated, prepare for ultraviolet exposure, and plan for chilly evenings.
In its weekly review covering November 17 to 23, 2025, Kenya Met confirmed that rainfall had become increasingly scarce across most counties. Noteworthy measurements included 37.1 mm at Mruru Station in Taita Taveta on November 18 — the highest 24-hour total of the week. Mandera Station clocked the highest daytime temperature at 37.3°C the same day, while Nyahururu continued to post the lowest readings, bottoming out at 5.4°C on November 22.
The data paints a picture of a country split between scorching heat and sudden chills — a balance that seems to be tipping toward more extreme conditions. And this is the part most people miss: could these stark temperature contrasts be a preview of Kenya’s evolving climate dynamics? Share your thoughts — are these fluctuations just short-term variations, or signs of a longer, more complex climate shift?
