Kenya’s climate ranges from hot and humid along the Indian Ocean coast to cool and temperate in the central highlands to arid across the vast northern plains. Sitting directly on the equator, the country doesn’t experience the four-season cycle familiar to higher latitudes. Instead, Kenya’s weather revolves around two rainy seasons and two dry seasons, with temperatures that stay relatively stable throughout the year but shift dramatically based on altitude and region.
Two Rainy Seasons, Two Dry Seasons
Kenya’s year is organized around rainfall rather than temperature. The “long rains” run from roughly March or April through late May, delivering the heavier share of the country’s annual moisture. The “short rains” arrive from late October through December and are lighter overall. Between these two wet periods sit distinct dry stretches: January through March tends to be the hottest and driest window, while June through September brings a cooler, drier spell, particularly in the highlands.
This bimodal rainfall pattern is driven by a belt of low pressure near the equator called the Intertropical Convergence Zone, or ITCZ, which migrates north and south with the seasons. As it passes over East Africa twice a year, it pulls in moisture-laden winds that trigger the rains. Shifts in the ITCZ’s position from year to year help explain why some rainy seasons arrive early or deliver far more (or less) water than expected.
Ocean temperatures also play a major role. A climate pattern in the Indian Ocean known as the Indian Ocean Dipole can amplify or suppress the short rains. When sea surface temperatures are warmer than usual in the western Indian Ocean (a “positive” event), Kenya tends to get heavier October-to-December rainfall. When the pattern flips negative, drier conditions and even drought can follow. Projections suggest these negative events will become more extreme, raising the risk of more frequent and severe droughts in the Horn of Africa.
How Climate Varies by Region
Central Highlands and Nairobi
The highlands, which rise above 1,500 meters (roughly 5,000 feet), enjoy what many visitors describe as an “eternal spring.” In Nairobi, sitting at about 1,700 meters, daytime highs typically range from 71°F to 81°F (22°C to 27°C) year-round. Nights cool to the mid-50s°F (around 12–13°C), and temperatures rarely drop below 50°F or climb above 84°F. February and March tend to be the warmest months, while July is the coolest. The altitude keeps humidity comfortable and makes the region one of the most temperate in tropical Africa.
The Coast
Mombasa and the coastal strip sit at sea level, and the difference from the highlands is immediate. Heat and humidity dominate, with afternoon humidity hovering around 60 to 70 percent and nighttime humidity climbing to 92 to 94 percent. Temperatures are consistently warm, and the combination of heat and moisture makes the coast feel significantly hotter than the thermometer alone would suggest. Rainfall follows the same two-season pattern, though coastal areas generally receive more total precipitation than the interior.
Lake Victoria Basin
Western Kenya, surrounding Lake Victoria, has its own microclimate. The massive lake moderates temperatures and generates moisture, so this region receives rainfall spread more evenly across the year compared to the rest of the country. The pattern is still roughly bimodal, with peaks during the equinoctial seasons (around March-May and October-December), but the dry seasons are less pronounced. Surface temperatures around the lake stay relatively constant, so the seasonal shift here is mainly about how much rain falls rather than how warm it gets.
Northern and Eastern Lowlands
The vast semi-arid and arid zones stretching across northern and eastern Kenya make up the majority of the country’s land area. Rainfall here is sparse and unreliable, and daytime temperatures regularly exceed 35°C (95°F). Vegetation is scrubby, and communities in these areas depend heavily on seasonal rains that may or may not arrive on schedule. This is the part of Kenya most vulnerable to drought.
Altitude Matters More Than Latitude
Kenya’s terrain rises from sea level to over 5,000 meters at the peak of Mount Kenya, and altitude is the single biggest factor determining local climate. A drive of just a few hours can take you from steamy coastal lowlands through temperate farmland and into alpine conditions with frost. The highlands above 2,500 meters experience nighttime temperatures near freezing, while the summit zone of Mount Kenya supports glaciers (though they are rapidly shrinking). This vertical range is why Kenya contains everything from tropical rainforest to desert to alpine moorland within a single country.
How Climate Change Is Reshaping Kenya’s Weather
Kenya’s climate is shifting in measurable ways. In 2024, the average Kenyan experienced 11.5 heatwave days, nearly all of which would not have occurred without human-caused climate change. Compared to the 1990s, people now face an additional 188 hours per year of moderate heat stress risk during light outdoor activity.
Drought is expanding even faster. The area of Kenya experiencing at least one month of extreme drought annually has increased 89 percent when comparing the 1950s to the 2020–2024 period. Currently, about 30 percent of Kenya’s land area faces at least one month of extreme drought each year. That drying trend is also fueling wildfire risk: between 2020 and 2024, Kenyans experienced an average of 71 high-wildfire-risk days per year, a 25 percent increase from just a decade earlier.
These trends hit hardest in the already-arid north and east, where drought can devastate livestock herds and food production. But even the normally reliable highland and lake basin regions are seeing greater rainfall variability, making seasonal planning harder for farmers across the country.