Kenya Met issues advisory on OND rains after fierce storms rake Kisumu City

A ferocious afternoon downpour accompanied by punishing winds battered Kisumu East on Thursday, October 8, ripping off roofs, felling billboards onto parked vehicles, and transforming suburban streets into rushing torrents.

The sudden squall caught thousands of residents and business owners off guard, marking a dramatic launch to the October–December (OND) rainfall season in Western Kenya.

What began as a typical, humid afternoon quickly turned dark as towering storm clouds rolled over Lake Victoria. Within minutes, howling gales tore through the city center and surrounding suburbs.

“The wind was too much. It could blow away anything. The rain did not even last 30 minutes, but it was short and heavy,” recalled resident Mary Owino, describing the intensity of the brief yet destructive tempest.

Traders seeking shelter along shop corridors were forced to flee for higher ground as fallen trees, advertising hoardings, and flying iron sheets littered major roadways. Images shared online captured billboards flattened on top of crushed vehicles, while business owners scrambled to secure remaining stock amidst leaking roofs and overflowing drainage gutters.

Following the chaos, the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority (KMSA) dispatched a public safety advisory warning citizens across the region to prepare for further extreme weather during the OND short rains.

“Heavy storms were experienced in Kisumu East afternoon, 8 October 2026. As we continue through the October–December (OND) rainfall season, the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority (KMSA) reminds the public to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions,” the weather agency stated.

KMSA outlined critical safety protocols, advising residents to strictly avoid seeking shelter beneath trees during thunderstorms and urging drivers and pedestrians never to navigate flooded roads, waterways, or low-lying areas.

Local leaders and city emergency crews spent the evening clearing debris and assessing structural damages across Kisumu. Addressing the vulnerability of low-lying settlements around the lake basin, Kisumu City Manager Fred Mariwa urged vulnerable residents to seek safer shelter.

“For the people who are in lower areas that are prone to flooding, please move to higher areas. For people who are living in buildings that are weak or that may collapse, please evacuate the buildings,” Mariwa warned.

To mitigate future inundations as the rainy season picks up pace, national authorities announced immediate infrastructure interventions.

East African Community (EAC) Affairs Principal Secretary Caroline Karugu highlighted ongoing flood-mitigation efforts aimed at safeguarding the region.

“We have already built 10 km worth of dykes. And in 2 weeks I'll be back to do another groundbreaking for an extra 3 km of dykes around the Nyando area to ensure that flooding does not affect the lives of those people and also does not affect the harvests,” Karugu confirmed.

While KMSA urged vigilance, their social media updates sparked widespread debate among Kenyans online. Many users questioned the accuracy of recent forecasts and demanded better predictive alerts rather than post-event reporting.

Despite the skepticism online, meteorologists warn that over 25 counties stretching from the Western highlands to the Coastal strip are slated for heavy downpours and high-speed winds exceeding 25 knots over the coming days. With ground conditions already saturated in Kisumu, residents are advised to stay tuned to official broadcasts, clear household drainage paths, and prepare for a wet, unpredictable OND season ahead.