Met warns of heavy rainfall in Coastal, North Eastern regions from Wednesday

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki dismissed the opposition for offering nothing to Kenyans saying they are ready to face and defeat them in the coming elections.

The DP said the figures in the opposition previously occupied senior positions in government but did nothing to improve the lives of the people but are now out presenting themselves as the needed alternative.

“I challenge them to tell the people of Kenya what they did for them when they were in power,” DP said.

He spoke on Tuesday when he launched and inspected ongoing development projects in North Imenti Constituency, Meru County.

“We cannot be afraid of people who are full of insults. Some of them had time to work for the people but because of their incompetence they were kicked out. Whenever they come here, ask them what they did for Meru people when they were in power,” Kindiki stated.

Kindiki launched Kambiti Last Mile Electricity Project, inspected Mwendatu Affordable Housing Project and later addressed jubilant residents in Meru town where he informed them of the massive development projects being done by the government in the County.

He challenged political opponents to get ready for a tough contest that will be centred on development not insults and chest thumping.

“The contest for the next elections has been clearly defined. Every leader will account for their time in office. They will be required to tell the people what they did with their time in office. Insults will not take you anywhere,” he noted.

The DP said the government has rolled out projects worth billions of shillings in Meru County that will anchor its quest for support towards reelecting President Ruto in next year’s polls.

“We are not just telling you to reelect President Ruto. We have a lot to account for our time in office. Meru Referral Hospital has been elevated to Level 6, we are constructing modern markets including one of the biggest in Gakoromone in Meru town,” DP cited.

Road projects costing billions of shillings are also in various stages of completion in the County including revamping of Meru town link roads.

“As a community, we must support President Ruto. We have no other option than to support the President to secure his second term as we look ahead to elections after next year’s,” he reiterated.

[21/04, 18:48] Cyrus Ombati Star:

The Kenya Meteorological Department Tuesday warned of intensified rainfall across several parts of the country in the coming days, raising concerns over possible flooding and dangerous weather conditions.

In a notice issued on Tuesday, April 21, the department said rainfall would persist from April 22 to April 27, 2026, with heavier downpours likely in Coastal and North Eastern regions.

Counties expected to be most affected include Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu and Garissa, alongside parts of Wajir, Mandera, Taita-Taveta, Kitui and Makueni.

“The upcoming rainfall may be accompanied by gusty winds exceeding 25 knots (12.5 m/s). Additionally, sea waves are expected to reach heights of more than 2 meters along the Coast,” the notice read in part.

Residents in the affected areas were advised to remain alert for potential floods, flash floods and reduced visibility.

The meteorological department cautioned that flooding may occur even in areas that do not experience heavy rainfall directly, particularly in downstream locations.

To minimise risks, members of the public have been urged to avoid walking or driving through moving water, stay away from open fields during storms, and refrain from sheltering under trees or near grilled windows due to the risk of lightning strikes.

Those engaging in maritime activities have also been advised to take extra precautions amid the rough sea conditions.

The warning comes as Kenyans have in the past accused the government of failing to act on alerts issued by Kenya Met, often responding only after disasters strike.

The concerns follow the heavy rainfall experienced in early March, which left more than 66 people dead. Nairobi recorded the highest number of fatalities at 33, followed by the Eastern region with 18 deaths, and eight in the Rift Valley.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, the government moved to identify 37 flood-prone neighbourhoods within Nairobi and initiated efforts to unblock drainage systems across the city in a bid to mitigate future risks.

Flooding has killed more than 130 people in the past three months in separate parts of the country. Hundreds of people have also been displaced in the incidents.