The Kenya Meteorological Department (Kenya Met) has classified as fake claims that parts of Northern and Eastern Kenya would receive extreme rainfall for a period of between 10 and 15 days.
A bonkers forecast making rounds on social media had claimed that the country would experience rainfall of between 300mm and 400mm exacerbating the dire situation caused by the El Nino phenomenon.
It claimed that the flooding would be caused by a large low-pressure system moving from the East as well as a cyclone forming off the Coast of Somalia bringing rainfall to Kenya.
Kenya Met, however, shut down the fake forecast noting that approved and signed weather prediction information emanates directly from its office.
Photo of Submerged car along Mombasa – Changamwe road on November 3, 2023
Photo
ANDY KIM
“Let’s combat misinformation! Authentic weather forecasts from the Kenya Met are signed, time-bound, bear signatures, include defined periods, and carry validity. Stay responsibly informed! Don’t be misled by forwarded messages. Rely on official sources!” Read the notice in part.
Immediately after the clarification, the department indicated that the Southern regions will still experience rain, while the north would see more sun and dry conditions.
The Coast, North-eastern, North-western, and some Southeastern lowlands will also experience high temperatures of above 30 degrees Celcius while nights in parts of Highland East Rift Valley will be chilly, recording temperatures of below 10 degrees Celcius.
Earlier, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed revealed that since the rains kicked off in October, 76 Kenyans have lost their lives while 35,000 households have been displaced.
As a result, the Cabinet under the stewardship of President William Ruto directed the National Treasury to release an additional KSh10 billion to County Governments this week.
The Cabinet further enhanced the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and all public civilian aircraft to transport medical supplies, food and non-food items for targeted distribution.
The affected regions so far are 3 counties in the North Eastern region, six in the Coast, 4 in the Central, 7 in the Eastern, and 4 in Nyanza.
Others are 3 in Western Kenya, 10 in Rift Valley as well as parts of Nairobi County.
Ksh1 Million Fine
The Kenya Met clarification comes barely a week after the Meteorology Bill 2023 sponsored by Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot was tabled in the Senate to create The Kenya Meteorological Service Authority as the sole agency responsible for publishing weather forecasts.
The bill also demanded that media houses and persons who make weather predictions not sanctioned by the Authority will be liable to pay a fine of up to Ksh 1 million..
Kenya Metereological Department Director David Gakungu addressing the press.
Photo
Mesha Science
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