Kenya is bracing for potentially heavy rainfall between October and December as the United Nations warns that the El Niño weather phenomenon could become one of the strongest recorded in four decades.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday that El Niño was expected to become “very strong” in the coming months and was almost certain to persist until February.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said the phenomenon could surpass previous records if the current trend continued.
“If this trajectory continues, it may be stronger than anything since our monitoring began,” Saulo told reporters in Geneva.
The WMO said El Niño is expected to reach its peak towards the end of the year, although its effects on global weather patterns could continue into 2027.
El Niño occurs when surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean become unusually warm, triggering changes in global wind patterns, atmospheric pressure and rainfall.
In Kenya, meteorological experts have warned that the phenomenon could result in above-normal rainfall from October through December.
The National Disaster Operation Centre said it was preparing for a “worst-case scenario”, with as many as 1.5 million people potentially exposed to the effects of heavy rainfall.
The agency also estimated that about 500,000 people could be displaced if the rains trigger severe flooding and other disasters.
Authorities are currently identifying vulnerable communities, infrastructure and other critical facilities to strengthen emergency response and raise public awareness ahead of the rainy season.
According to the Daily Nation, the Kenyan government is particularly concerned about the potential impact of heavy rainfall on water supplies, electricity networks and communication systems.
The warnings come as authorities step up preparations to minimise the humanitarian and economic consequences of what could be an unusually intense weather season.
 said on Thursday that El Niño was expected to become “very strong” in the coming months){kind=link}