The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) has issued a weather alert warning of heavy rainfall and strong winds along the Kenyan Coast as Cyclone Chenge a weakening low-pressure system approaches the East African coastline.
According to the latest KMD statement released on Sunday, Cyclone Chenge (Residual Depression) is currently over the southwest Indian Ocean, about 500 kilometres north of Madagascar. The system, which initially formed as a low-pressure area, has sustained winds of around 55 kilometres per hour, with gusts reaching up to 75 kilometres per hour as it moves westward across the northern Mozambique Channel.
Despite its weakening state, Chenge’s proximity to the coast may influence local weather conditions over southern coastal Kenya and parts of Tanzania early in the week. The department has forecast heavy rainfall over several parts of the country, with winds exceeding 25 knots expected along the south coast on Monday and Tuesday as the system dissipates.
KMD has urged residents, particularly those in coastal counties, to remain vigilant and stay updated through official advisories. Fishermen and marine operators have been cautioned to avoid venturing into the sea due to the likelihood of rough waters and strong gusts.
In its earlier advisory issued last Wednesday, KMD noted that ongoing rains in the Lake Victoria Basin, Rift Valley, and Highlands West of the Rift Valley are expected to intensify, spreading to Nairobi, the Southeastern Lowlands, and parts of the Northeast.
Counties likely to be affected include Kisumu, Kakamega, Nakuru, Turkana, Marsabit, Wajir, Nyeri, and Laikipia. Residents in flood-prone and landslide-risk areas—particularly along the Aberdare Ranges and Mount Kenya—are advised to exercise caution.
“People in landslide-prone areas and flood basins should be on high alert,” said Kennedy Thiong’o, who issued the advisory on behalf of the Acting Director of the Kenya Meteorological Department.
