In a recent revelation, President William Ruto has confirmed that Kenya will not experience El Nino rains as previously predicted by the Kenya Meteorological Department.
Speaking to a congregation during a church service in Riruta, the Head of State shared that the meteorologists had altered their earlier projection, stating that the country would now only experience heavy rains, not the potentially destructive El Nino phenomenon.
“We heard reports that the country will experience El Nino rains, which have the potential to destroy property. But God has been faithful,” President Ruto explained to the audience. “We have now heard the meteorologists saying that will no longer be the case. We will just have heavy rains. We thank God.”
In an earlier projection, the Kenya Meteorological Department had indicated that Kenya would experience El Nino between the months of October and December.
In some regions like Western Kenya and parts of Rift Valley, the Department had indicated that El Nino effects would extend to January 2024.
The Head of State, attributed to the change of pattern to his administration’s belief in God and prayers conducted at the Nyayo Stadium.
“There are those who criticised us when we prayed for rains at Nyayo stadium. They said a whole president is praying for rain. Now see, we have more rains than we have had in four years, that is God’s doing,” he added.
Despite criticisms about the presidential involvement in rain prayers, President Ruto pointed to the increased rainfall as a testament to divine intervention.
President Ruto further outlined plans to harness the rains to enhance agricultural productivity, with the aim of lowering the cost of living for Kenyan citizens.
This comes as the country experienced a significant improvement in maize production.
After a deficit of 10 million bags of maize last year, this year’s harvest is expected to exceed the previous year’s by an additional 45 percent, totaling 44 million bags already harvested.
While the weather change is positive news for agriculture, the Kenya Meteorological Department warned last week that some regions would still face challenges.
Storms were expected in areas such as Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, North-eastern, and North-western Kenya.
Additionally, coastal areas, North-Eastern, and North-Western Kenya were advised to prepare for high daytime temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius.
“A few areas in the Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, the South-eastern lowlands and the Rift Valley will experience low average night-time (minimum) temperatures of less than 10°C,” read the update in part.
