NAIROBI, Kenya — State public safety agencies and utility providers have issued coordinated public advisories today as Kenya prepares for severe heavy rainfall across 21 counties, alongside planned electricity maintenance blackouts scheduled to impact commercial and residential sectors across 13 counties.
The dual advisories come as municipal teams move to fortify urban drainage channels, protect electrical infrastructure, and minimize disruption to transport networks during the ongoing rainy season.
NATIONAL PUBLIC ADVISORIES OVERVIEW
| Advisory Type | Coverage & Affected Regions |
|---|---|
| Heavy Rainfall & Flood Alert (Kenya Meteorological Dept) | 21 Counties (Lake Basin, Highlands, Central, Coast, and Rift Valley) |
| Planned Electricity Interruption (Kenya Power Maintenance) | 13 Counties (Pockets of Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Nakuru, Coastal belt) |
21 Counties on High Alert
The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) issued an urgent, multi-day weather warning advising residents across 21 counties to prepare for heavy rainfall exceeding 30mm within 24-hour periods, accompanied by strong gusts of wind, lightning strikes, and potential flash flooding.
The affected regions include:
- The Lake Victoria Basin & Western Highlands: Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia, Bungoma, Kisumu, Homabay, and Migori.
- The Rift Valley & Central Highlands: Nakuru, Kericho, Bomet, Eldoret (Uasin Gishu), Nandi, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Murang’a, and Kiambu.
- Nairobi Metropolitan & Coastal Belt: Nairobi County, Machakos, Kajiado, Kilifi, and Kwale.
Meteorologists warned that rapid surface runoff in urban areas—particularly within Nairobi, Kisumu, and Nakuru—could lead to submerged roadways, reduced driving visibility, and localized traffic gridlock during peak commuting hours.
“We urge members of the public, particularly drivers, farmers, and residents living near low-lying riverbanks or flood-prone drainage basins, to exercise extreme caution,” said Senior Director of Meteorological Services.
“Avoid driving or walking through moving water, stay away from tall trees and exposed metal structures during thunderstorms, and ensure household drainage channels are clear of debris.”
Disaster response teams from the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU) and County Emergency Services have been deployed to high-risk zones to monitor water levels and coordinate emergency evacuations if necessary.
Kenya Power Grid Maintenance and System Upgrades
In tandem with environmental safety warnings, Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) released its planned maintenance schedule, confirming temporary electricity supply interruptions affecting targeted neighborhoods across 13 counties today.
Utility executives explained that the scheduled blackouts are necessary to allow engineering crews to conduct essential system upgrades, replace damaged transformers, trim encroaching tree vegetation near high-voltage lines, and integrate new primary substations ahead of expected peak seasonal power demands.
Affected areas include:
- Nairobi County: Portions of Industrial Area, Westlands, Kilimani, Kasarani, and segments along Mombasa Road.
- Central & Rift Valley Circuits: Designated commercial and residential pockets in Kiambu, Thika, Nakuru, and Naivasha.
- Coastal Circuit: Specific industrial and residential areas in Mombasa, Kilifi, and Kwale.
“We recognize the inconvenience that planned power maintenance causes to residential consumers and business operations,” Kenya Power stated in its public notice.
“However, these preventive maintenance works are critical for ensuring long-term grid stability, preventing unplanned emergency blackouts, and protecting our infrastructure against weather-related damage during heavy downpours.”
Commercial operators, hospital administrators, and manufacturing plant managers in affected zones have been advised to switch to backup diesel generators or alternative solar power systems during the scheduled maintenance windows, which are expected to last between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.