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Weatherman denies issuing heat wave alert, maintains warm temperatures are normal

Dr David Gikungu, the director Kenya Meteorological department during an interview on August 28, 2024.

Photo credit: JOSEPH OPENDA/MTAA WANGU
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By  LELETI JASSOR

Correspondent

Mtaa Wangu

It has been a hot and dusty month in Nakuru. Not hot as in trending-on-X hot, but hot as in sleep-with-one-leg-out-of-the-blanket.

The days have felt like walking straight into a sun-powered oven, and morning through evening errands now require physical and emotional preparation and a strong will to survive.

The conversation has been pushed to digital platforms, with users speculating on a current heatwave.

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However, the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) has, on social media, through their X account, stepped in and dismissed the claims.

“KMD would like to clarify that the heat wave alert currently circulating on social media is not an official communication from KMD. We are aware of the message and urge members of the public to ignore it,” reads part of the statement.

They go ahead to say that the department’s temperature climatology, January, February, and March are typically the hottest months in Kenya, and the warmer-than-average temperatures currently being experienced are normal for this period and consistent with the forecast.

Daytime temperatures above 30°C are expected across the Coastal region, North-eastern and North-western Kenya, as well as parts of the south-eastern lowlands, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, and Western Kenya.

Night-time temperatures below 10°C are forecast in some areas of the Central Highlands, the North and Central Rift Valley, Western Kenya, and around Mt. Kilimanjaro.

“Weather Forecast for 27th January – 2nd February 2026: Predominantly sunny and dry conditions are expected over much of the country. However, isolated light rainfall is likely to occur in a few areas, particularly the Highlands east and west of the Rift Valley, the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Coastal region, and the south-eastern lowlands,” it says.

KMD says it will continue to monitor conditions and will issue official advisories as necessary through its verified channels.

“Members of the public are encouraged to rely only on official KMD information and avoid sharing unverified weather messages,” it adds.