The Director of Meteorological Services Stella Aura (pictured) has warned Kenyans to brace themselves for prolonged dry which is expected to persist with no signs of rainfall this month and in May.
According to the Met dept, Kenyans should also brace for acute water and food scarcity and high temperatures.
“The forecast for the remainder of the season indicates that most of the country is expected to continue to be dry for the month of April 2019,” Aura said.
The conditions may only improve if the expected October to December short rains season performs well. The recent revelations on rainfall delay spells doom to farmers, who have prepared their land while others have already planted.
The current situation has seen prices of food stuff in some parts of the country more than doubling as effects of drought continue to bite.
Some traders say their profit margins have dropped after suppliers of fresh farm produce reduced supplies and increased prices of the commodities.
“The projection for the month of May indicates that most parts of the country will receive below average rainfall apart from the western areas of the country,” she said.
Aura said the month of May marks the end of seasonal rains over most areas apart from the Western and Coastal strip where the rains go into early June.
“However in early May, there are chances of isolated storms that may cause flash floods over low-lying areas,” she added.
There is hope for the residents of Western and Coastal strip who may continue to experience isolated rainfall over few places up to the beginning of June.