Nairobi to be sunny as Rift Valley Highlands see rain – Kenya Met
By Aloys Michael, February 1, 2026Residents in areas of the Highlands west of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, and parts of the Rift Valley have been advised to prepare for light to moderate rainfall over the next five days, the Kenya Meteorological Department has said.
In its weekly forecast released on Saturday, January 31, 2026, the weatherman indicates that scattered showers are likely in parts of Nyanza and the South Rift, including Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori, as well as sections of Kisii and Nyamira counties, while most other regions are expected to experience sunny and dry conditions amid concerns over heat wave although the department had dismissed it.
“Scattered showers will grace Nyanza and parts of the Rift by afternoon and night, while much of the country basks in sunny, dry spells between passing clouds,” Kenya Met said.
According to the forecast, other Western and Rift Valley counties expected to receive rainfall include Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Kericho, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, Narok, and Baringo.
The department said the rains will be scattered and confined to a few areas, mainly occurring in the afternoons and at night, with some episodes accompanied by thunderstorms. This is even as morning conditions are expected to feature sunny intervals.
Rainfall is projected to remain light to moderate, with no indication of prolonged or widespread downpours during the period.
Maximum temperatures are forecast to range between 30°C and 33°C, while minimum temperatures could drop to as low as 8°C in some highland areas.
In Nairobi and the surrounding counties in the Highlands East of the Rift Valley, such as Kiambu, Nyeri, Murang’a, Laikipia, Meru, Embu, and Kirinyaga, residents should expect mostly dry weather. The day will feature sunny intervals, with only a few areas seeing isolated light showers.
Nighttime temperatures across Nairobi and nearby counties will be partly cloudy, ranging between 5°C and 8°C, while daytime highs are expected to reach 31°C to 33°C.
Meteorologists warn that the current dry and hot conditions are set to persist. In the North-Western counties, including Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, and Isiolo, sunny intervals will dominate the day.
Temperatures in these regions are forecasted to peak at 38°C, dropping to around 17°C at night.
Meanwhile, the south-eastern lowlands, covering counties like Kitui, Makueni, Machakos, Kajiado, and Taita Taveta, are forecasted to stay mostly dry, with clear, sunny days and partly cloudy nights.
Along the Coast, including Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, and Lamu, residents can expect sunny spells, warm temperatures, and humid conditions, with little to no rainfall predicted during this period.