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Climate

Kenya’s diverse geography means temperature, rainfall and humidity patterns vary widely but there are effectively four zones about which generalizations can be made.

The undulating plateau of western Kenya is generally hot ands fairly humid with rainfall spread throughout the year. The greatest precipitation is usually during April when a maximum of 200mm maybe recorded, while the lowest falls are in January with an average of 40mm. Temperatures range from a minimum of 14 degrees C to 18 degrees C to a maximum 30 degrees C to 36 degrees C over the year.

The Central Highlands and Rift Valley enjoy perhaps the most agreeable climate in the country. Average temperatures may vary from a minimum of 10 degrees C to 14 degrees C to a maximum of 22 degrees C to 28 degrees C. Rainfall varies from a minimum of 20mm in July to 200mm in April and falls essentially in two seasons – March to the beginning of June (the long rains) and October to the end of November (the short rains}. Mt Kenya and the Aberdare mountains are the country’s main water-catchments areas, and falls of up to 3000mm per year are recorded in these two places.

In the vast semiarid bushlands, deserts and lava flows of northern and eastern Kenya, the temperature can vary from highs of up to 40 degrees C during the day to less than 20 degrees C at night. Rainfall in this is sparse and, when it does fall, it often comes in the form of violent storms. July is generally the driest month and November the wettest. The average annual rainfall varies between 250mm and 500mm.

The fourth climatic zone is the coastal belt, which is hot and humid year-round, though tempered by sea breezes. Rainfall ranges from a minimum of 20mm in February to a maximum of 300mm in May, and is dependent on the monsoon, which blows from the northeast from October to April and from the southwest for the rest of the year. The annual average rainfall is between 1000mm and 1250mm (less in drought years). Average temperatures vary little throughout the year, ranging from 22 degrees C to around 20 degrees C.