Kenya Rainfall & Climate Reference by County

Explore rainfall patterns for all 47 Kenya counties. Monthly averages, rainy seasons, dry seasons, and climate zones — useful for farmers, tourists, and event planners.

Data & ReferenceKenya Meteorological Department (meteo.go.ke)Rarely changes

Kakamega

Highland/Equatorial1900 mm/year

Long Rains: March – June

Short Rains: September – November

Dry Season: December – February

Jan85
Feb90
Mar170
Apr275
May265
Jun145
Jul115
Aug125
Sep145
Oct165
Nov135
Dec85

Vihiga

Highland/Equatorial1900 mm/year

Long Rains: March – June

Short Rains: September – November

Dry Season: December – February

Jan85
Feb88
Mar168
Apr272
May262
Jun142
Jul112
Aug122
Sep142
Oct162
Nov132
Dec82

Kericho

Highland1800 mm/year

Long Rains: March – June

Short Rains: September – November

Dry Season: December – February

Jan80
Feb85
Mar160
Apr260
May250
Jun140
Jul110
Aug120
Sep140
Oct160
Nov130
Dec80

Kisii

Highland/Equatorial1750 mm/year

Long Rains: March – June

Short Rains: September – November

Dry Season: December – February

Jan78
Feb82
Mar155
Apr252
May242
Jun135
Jul108
Aug115
Sep135
Oct155
Nov128
Dec78

Nyamira

Highland/Equatorial1700 mm/year

Long Rains: March – June

Short Rains: September – November

Dry Season: December – February

Jan75
Feb80
Mar150
Apr245
May235
Jun132
Jul105
Aug112
Sep130
Oct150
Nov125
Dec75

Bomet

Highland1500 mm/year

Long Rains: March – June

Short Rains: September – November

Dry Season: December – February

Jan65
Feb70
Mar135
Apr220
May210
Jun120
Jul95
Aug100
Sep118
Oct140
Nov115
Dec68

Bungoma

Highland1500 mm/year

Long Rains: March – June

Short Rains: September – November

Dry Season: December – February

Jan65
Feb68
Mar132
Apr218
May208
Jun118
Jul92
Aug98
Sep115
Oct138
Nov112
Dec66

Busia

Equatorial1500 mm/year

Long Rains: March – June

Short Rains: September – November

Dry Season: December – February

Jan65
Feb70
Mar135
Apr220
May210
Jun120
Jul95
Aug100
Sep115
Oct138
Nov112
Dec68

Nyandarua

Highland1400 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: January – February

Jan65
Feb70
Mar140
Apr230
May210
Jun75
Jul50
Aug45
Sep48
Oct140
Nov170
Dec95

Nandi

Highland1400 mm/year

Long Rains: March – June

Short Rains: September – November

Dry Season: December – February

Jan60
Feb65
Mar130
Apr210
May200
Jun110
Jul90
Aug95
Sep115
Oct135
Nov110
Dec65

Nyeri

Highland1350 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: January – February

Jan60
Feb65
Mar135
Apr225
May200
Jun70
Jul48
Aug42
Sep45
Oct135
Nov165
Dec90

Murang'a

Highland1350 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: January – February

Jan60
Feb65
Mar135
Apr220
May200
Jun70
Jul47
Aug42
Sep45
Oct132
Nov162
Dec90

Siaya

Equatorial1350 mm/year

Long Rains: March – June

Short Rains: September – November

Dry Season: December – February

Jan58
Feb62
Mar120
Apr200
May190
Jun105
Jul82
Aug88
Sep102
Oct125
Nov102
Dec60

Migori

Equatorial1350 mm/year

Long Rains: March – June

Short Rains: September – November

Dry Season: December – February

Jan58
Feb62
Mar120
Apr200
May190
Jun108
Jul85
Aug90
Sep105
Oct125
Nov102
Dec60

Kirinyaga

Highland1300 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: January – February

Jan58
Feb62
Mar130
Apr215
May195
Jun68
Jul45
Aug40
Sep43
Oct130
Nov160
Dec88

Kisumu

Equatorial1300 mm/year

Long Rains: March – June

Short Rains: September – November

Dry Season: December – February

Jan55
Feb60
Mar115
Apr195
May185
Jun100
Jul80
Aug85
Sep98
Oct120
Nov98
Dec58

Embu

Highland1250 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: January – February

Jan55
Feb60
Mar125
Apr210
May190
Jun65
Jul42
Aug38
Sep42
Oct125
Nov155
Dec85

Trans Nzoia

Highland1250 mm/year

Long Rains: March – June

Short Rains: September – November

Dry Season: December – February

Jan50
Feb55
Mar110
Apr180
May175
Jun100
Jul85
Aug90
Sep105
Oct120
Nov100
Dec55

Meru

Highland1200 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: January – February

Jan50
Feb55
Mar120
Apr200
May180
Jun60
Jul40
Aug35
Sep40
Oct120
Nov150
Dec80

Homa Bay

Equatorial1200 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: September – November

Dry Season: December – February

Jan48
Feb52
Mar105
Apr180
May170
Jun90
Jul72
Aug78
Sep90
Oct110
Nov92
Dec52

Elgeyo Marakwet

Highland1150 mm/year

Long Rains: March – June

Short Rains: September – November

Dry Season: December – February

Jan48
Feb52
Mar105
Apr170
May165
Jun95
Jul78
Aug82
Sep98
Oct115
Nov95
Dec52

Kwale

Coastal1100 mm/year

Long Rains: April – June

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: January – March

Jan28
Feb20
Mar60
Apr145
May250
Jun130
Jul90
Aug75
Sep70
Oct115
Nov135
Dec95

Tharaka-Nithi

Highland1100 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: January – February

Jan45
Feb50
Mar110
Apr185
May170
Jun55
Jul38
Aug32
Sep38
Oct110
Nov140
Dec75

Kiambu

Highland1100 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: January – February

Jan45
Feb50
Mar110
Apr180
May170
Jun55
Jul38
Aug32
Sep35
Oct110
Nov140
Dec75

Uasin Gishu

Highland1100 mm/year

Long Rains: March – June

Short Rains: September – November

Dry Season: December – February

Jan45
Feb50
Mar100
Apr165
May160
Jun90
Jul75
Aug80
Sep95
Oct110
Nov90
Dec50

Kilifi

Coastal1050 mm/year

Long Rains: April – June

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: January – March

Jan22
Feb15
Mar48
Apr130
May235
Jun115
Jul80
Aug65
Sep60
Oct105
Nov125
Dec85

Narok

Highland/Savanna1050 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: June – September

Jan40
Feb45
Mar95
Apr160
May155
Jun60
Jul42
Aug38
Sep40
Oct110
Nov135
Dec70

Mombasa

Coastal1040 mm/year

Long Rains: April – June

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: January – March

Jan25
Feb18
Mar52
Apr135
May240
Jun120
Jul85
Aug70
Sep65
Oct110
Nov130
Dec90

Nakuru

Highland950 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: January – February

Jan35
Feb40
Mar85
Apr150
May145
Jun55
Jul40
Aug38
Sep40
Oct100
Nov125
Dec65

Lamu

Coastal900 mm/year

Long Rains: April – June

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: January – March

Jan18
Feb12
Mar42
Apr120
May210
Jun100
Jul70
Aug55
Sep50
Oct95
Nov115
Dec75

West Pokot

Semi-Arid/Highland900 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: January – February

Jan30
Feb35
Mar80
Apr140
May150
Jun50
Jul35
Aug30
Sep28
Oct95
Nov120
Dec60

Nairobi

Highland900 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: June – September

Jan30
Feb35
Mar80
Apr150
May145
Jun40
Jul25
Aug22
Sep25
Oct95
Nov120
Dec62

Machakos

Semi-Arid700 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: June – September

Jan20
Feb18
Mar60
Apr110
May130
Jun32
Jul20
Aug16
Sep15
Oct85
Nov105
Dec55

Baringo

Semi-Arid700 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – November

Dry Season: June – September

Jan20
Feb18
Mar60
Apr110
May130
Jun35
Jul22
Aug18
Sep17
Oct85
Nov100
Dec55

Laikipia

Semi-Arid/Highland700 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – November

Dry Season: June – September

Jan20
Feb22
Mar60
Apr110
May125
Jun35
Jul22
Aug18
Sep20
Oct82
Nov100
Dec52

Taita Taveta

Semi-Arid/Highland650 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: June – September

Jan15
Feb12
Mar55
Apr100
May120
Jun40
Jul25
Aug20
Sep18
Oct80
Nov100
Dec55

Kitui

Semi-Arid650 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: June – September

Jan18
Feb15
Mar55
Apr100
May120
Jun30
Jul18
Aug15
Sep14
Oct80
Nov100
Dec52

Makueni

Semi-Arid600 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: June – September

Jan15
Feb12
Mar50
Apr95
May110
Jun28
Jul16
Aug13
Sep12
Oct75
Nov95
Dec48

Kajiado

Semi-Arid/Savanna600 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – December

Dry Season: June – September

Jan15
Feb18
Mar50
Apr95
May110
Jun25
Jul15
Aug12
Sep14
Oct75
Nov95
Dec48

Tana River

Semi-Arid520 mm/year

Long Rains: April – May

Short Rains: October – November

Dry Season: June – September

Jan10
Feb8
Mar30
Apr85
May110
Jun35
Jul20
Aug15
Sep12
Oct70
Nov85
Dec40

Samburu

Semi-Arid450 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – November

Dry Season: June – September

Jan12
Feb10
Mar35
Apr75
May95
Jun25
Jul14
Aug12
Sep10
Oct60
Nov65
Dec30

Isiolo

Semi-Arid400 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – November

Dry Season: June – September

Jan10
Feb8
Mar30
Apr70
May90
Jun22
Jul12
Aug10
Sep8
Oct55
Nov58
Dec27

Marsabit

Arid350 mm/year

Long Rains: March – May

Short Rains: October – November

Dry Season: June – September

Jan8
Feb5
Mar25
Apr65
May85
Jun18
Jul10
Aug8
Sep6
Oct48
Nov50
Dec22

Garissa

Arid310 mm/year

Long Rains: April – May

Short Rains: October – November

Dry Season: June – September

Jan5
Feb3
Mar20
Apr60
May80
Jun15
Jul8
Aug5
Sep4
Oct50
Nov45
Dec15

Wajir

Arid260 mm/year

Long Rains: April – May

Short Rains: October – November

Dry Season: June – September

Jan4
Feb2
Mar15
Apr55
May70
Jun10
Jul5
Aug3
Sep3
Oct42
Nov38
Dec13

Mandera

Arid240 mm/year

Long Rains: April – May

Short Rains: October – November

Dry Season: June – September

Jan3
Feb2
Mar18
Apr50
May65
Jun8
Jul4
Aug3
Sep2
Oct40
Nov35
Dec10

Turkana

Arid200 mm/year

Long Rains: April – May

Short Rains: October – November

Dry Season: June – September

Jan3
Feb2
Mar12
Apr45
May55
Jun6
Jul3
Aug2
Sep2
Oct35
Nov28
Dec7

About the Data

  • •Monthly averages are approximate values in millimetres (mm) based on Kenya Meteorological Department 1981–2010 climate normals
  • •Kenya has two main rainy seasons: Long Rains (March–May) and Short Rains (October–December)
  • •The Rift Valley and Western Kenya can receive rain year-round
  • •Highlands receive the most rainfall — Kericho, Kakamega, and Kisii regularly exceed 1,500mm/year
  • •North Eastern Kenya (Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Turkana) is extremely arid with less than 350mm/year
  • •Climate change is affecting traditional rainfall patterns — actual conditions may vary from historical averages

Frequently Asked Questions

When are the rainy seasons in Kenya?
Kenya generally has two rainy seasons: the 'Long Rains' occur from March to May, and the 'Short Rains' occur from October to December. However, this varies by region (e.g., Western Kenya receives rain year-round).
Which is the wettest county in Kenya?
Counties in the Lake Victoria basin and Western Highlands are the wettest. Kakamega, Vihiga, Kericho, and Kisii receive between 1,700mm and 2,000mm of rain annually.
Which is the driest county in Kenya?
Turkana is the driest county, receiving less than 200mm of rainfall annually. Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa are also extremely arid.
How does climate change affect Kenya's rainfall?
Climate change is making Kenya's rainfall patterns less predictable. The traditional 'Long Rains' have failed multiple times in recent years, leading to severe droughts, while sudden heavy downpours cause flash floods.

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