Kenya climate
World Climates covers 18 places in Kenya. By annual mean temperature, the warmest is Lodwar (30 °C85 °F) and the coolest is Eldoret (17 °C63 °F). The wettest is Kisumu with 2,009 mm79 in of precipitation per year, the driest Lodwar with 317 mm12 in.
The most common climate types (Köppen classification computed from these averages) are tropical savanna (dry winter) (Aw, 4 places), tropical savanna (dry summer) (As, 4 places), tropical rainforest (Af, 3 places) and temperate oceanic (Cfb, 2 places).
The highest monthly average high is in Mandera (39 °C102 °F in March); the lowest monthly average low is in Eldoret (11 °C51 °F in January).
Across the places in Kenya, the months that most often rank as the most comfortable are January, July and August (12, 14 and 11 of 18 places respectively).
Temperature and rainfall across Kenya
Annual mean temperatures in Kenya range from 17 °C63 °F to 30 °C85 °F. The typical place (the median of all 18) has a year average of 22 °C71 °F. Annual precipitation ranges from 317 mm12 in to 2,009 mm79 in. The median place receives about 894 mm35 in in an average year.
In 0 places of 18, the coldest month has an average low below 0 °C (32 °F). In 9 places, the warmest month has an average high above 30 °C (86 °F). No place here gets less than 250 mm (10 in) of precipitation a year. 1 place get more than 2,000 mm (79 in), which is very wet.
The table below lists the places sorted by population. The largest ones covered here are Nairobi, Kakamega and Mombasa. Each city page has a chart and a table for every month. It also shows the best time to visit and what to pack. The figures are 25-year averages for 2001–2025 from NASA POWER. They describe grid cells of roughly 50–70 km, not single weather stations.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the warmest place in Kenya?
By annual mean temperature, the warmest place in Kenya is Lodwar at 30 °C85 °F. The coolest is Eldoret at 17 °C63 °F.
Where does it rain the most in Kenya?
Kisumu gets the most precipitation, 2,009 mm79 in in an average year. The driest place is Lodwar with 317 mm12 in.
How many places in Kenya does this site cover?
World Climates has climate data for 18 places in Kenya. Each one has a page with monthly averages for temperature, rainfall, humidity and daylight.
When is the best time to visit Kenya?
It depends on the place. Across Kenya, the months that most often rank as the most comfortable are January, July and August. Check the page of each city for its own best months.
Climate of every place in Kenya
| Place | Year | Max high | Min low | Precip. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi | 20 | 29 | 12 | 602 |
| Kakamega | 21 | 29 | 14 | 1,950 |
| Mombasa | 27 | 35 | 21 | 894 |
| Nakuru | 19 | 28 | 12 | 1,233 |
| Ruiru | 21 | 29 | 13 | 788 |
| Eldoret | 17 | 26 | 11 | 1,950 |
| Kisumu | 23 | 31 | 18 | 2,009 |
| Thika | 21 | 29 | 13 | 788 |
| Karuri | 22 | 31 | 15 | 1,192 |
| Mwala | 22 | 30 | 13 | 656 |
| Jomvu | 27 | 35 | 21 | 894 |
| Garissa | 28 | 38 | 20 | 510 |
| Kitale | 18 | 27 | 11 | 1,846 |
| Malindi | 27 | 34 | 22 | 848 |
| Mandera | 29 | 39 | 21 | 410 |
| Khwisero | 21 | 28 | 17 | 1,868 |
| Kisii | 20 | 28 | 14 | 1,747 |
| Lodwar | 30 | 37 | 23 | 317 |
Year = annual mean temperature; max high = average high of the warmest month; min low = average low of the coldest month; precip. = annual total. Temperatures in °C°F, precipitation in mminches. Sorted by population.
Other cities over 100,000 people
These cities share a NASA POWER grid cell with a larger place, so their averages are shown on that page:
Data: NASA POWER climatology 2001–2025 (MERRA-2 reanalysis, CERES satellite data) — grid-cell averages, not station records. Sources and method.