🌦️ Wet West, Dry East: Why One Strategy Won’t Work for All in MAM 2026

The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) has dropped its forecast for the March-April-May (MAM) long rains, and it paints a picture of two very different planting seasons.

• The Good News: If you are in the Highlands West of the Rift (Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Kericho) or the Lake Victoria Basin, get your tractors ready. The forecast predicts near-average to above-average rainfall. This is the green light for high-yield maize farming.
• The Warning: For farmers in the Southeastern Lowlands (Kitui, Makueni), Northeastern, and the Coast, the forecast is tough. You are facing “near-average to below-average” rainfall, with a high chance of insignificant rains—meaning showers that wet the dust but don’t sustain a crop.

The Takeaway: Don’t copy your neighbor in Eldoret if you live in Machakos. The government is urging everyone to plant, but what you plant matters more than ever.

• West: Go for maximum yield (600 series maize).
• East/North: Go for survival (fast-maturing crops).

References:

Nairobi Leo Kenya Met Issues March-May 2026 Long Rains Forecast

Daily Nation End of drought in sight, but coming rains will be insignificant for arid regions

All Africa Above-Average Rains Expected in Key Regions, Weatherman Warns of Dry Spells Elsewhere