Kenya Met Director David Gikungu speaks on what was behind the El Nino miscommunication.
Speaking at citizen TV, Kenya Met Director David Gikungu apologized on the miscommunication from president Ruto, saying that Kenya is in a season that meteorologists refer as the short rains, this time round enhanced by the El Nino phenomenon.
He stated,”The official communication we have been giving have not suggested increase or decline or anything that would withdraw the El Nino phenomenon. People have associated El Nino with rainfall almost to the extent of calling rainfall El Nino which is not the case.”
“As the head of the department, I needed to state that the forecast has not changed. I needed to state that I am sorry about that miscommunication. The indication is that we are all in an El Nino season that lasts up to April 2024,” he added.
The director outlined that The forecast shows areas around Kitui will receive heavy rainfall this week, extremely high by Thursday and Friday. Nairobi by proximity may receive a share of the enhanced rainfall this week.
He further shed light on the floods that are currently happening at the coast saying What the Coast has received is already higher than average.
He stated,”The observation is that there is a likelihood of going all the way to the end of January. This is not uncommon. Around August going forward, it was very clear that we were going into a season that would be characterized by higher-than-normal rainfall.”
“The rainfall that we are receiving is already intensified. The term we use mainly is enhanced. Even though it is a rainfall season, what we are receiving is above average for the season,” he added.
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