Weather by month for central Kenya, the best months to go and how Kenya's regions differ, scored from 10 years of climate data.
Jul, Dec
The highest month scores: comfortable temperatures, little rain and plenty of sun.
Highs 31°C to 32°C · 1–8 rain days
Mar, Apr, Oct
The weakest weather of the year: too hot, too cold or too wet.
Highs 32°C to 34°C · 6–13 rain days
Weather by month
Average highs and lows, rain days, sunshine and our month score out of 10.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°C / 21°C | 3 days (18 mm) | 11.3 h/day | 4.7/10 |
| February | 34°C / 22°C | 2 days (9 mm) | 11.5 h/day | 4.4/10 |
| March | 34°C / 23°C | 7 days (40 mm) | 11.2 h/day | 3.3/10 |
| April | 32°C / 22°C | 13 days (93 mm) | 10.5 h/day | 2.8/10 |
| May | 33°C / 22°C | 3 days (16 mm) | 11.2 h/day | 4.4/10 |
| June | 33°C / 22°C | 1 day (4 mm) | 10.6 h/day | 5.0/10 |
| Best month: July | 32°C / 21°C | 1 day (3 mm) | 9.9 h/day | 5.3/10 |
| August | 33°C / 21°C | 1 day (2 mm) | 10.3 h/day | 5.1/10 |
| September | 34°C / 21°C | 1 day (1 mm) | 11.2 h/day | 4.5/10 |
| October | 34°C / 22°C | 6 days (36 mm) | 11.5 h/day | 3.6/10 |
| November | 31°C / 21°C | 15 days (104 mm) | 10.8 h/day | 4.7/10 |
| Best month: December | 31°C / 21°C | 8 days (38 mm) | 11.1 h/day | 6.0/10 |
Figures for central Kenya; the country's best months are weighted across its cities. Best months are highlighted. How we score months
Month by month
32°C / 21°C · 3 rain days · 11.3 h sun
Days hit a high of 32.4°C with lows near 21.2°C. Rain is light, just 2.9 days and 18mm for the month, with 11.3 hours of sun. This is a dry, warm month and the score rates it ok. New Year's Day falls on 1 January.
34°C / 22°C · 2 rain days · 11.5 h sun
February is hotter still, up to 33.5°C by day and down to 22.4°C at night. Rain is scarce, only 1.9 days and 9mm, with 11.5 hours of sunshine. Dry and bright conditions back up the ok verdict for the month.
34°C / 23°C · 7 rain days · 11.2 h sun
Highs reach 33.7°C but rain picks up sharply: 6.8 rain days and 40mm fall, an early sign of the long rains starting. Sun hours drop slightly to 11.2. The score flags this month as one to think twice about, mainly because of the rising wet weather.
32°C / 22°C · 13 rain days · 10.5 h sun
April is the wettest ordinary month, with 13 rain days and 93mm of rain. Highs stay warm at 32.2°C but sun hours fall to 10.5, the lowest outside November. This is the long rains season, and the low score reflects how disruptive the rain can be for travel.
33°C / 22°C · 3 rain days · 11.2 h sun
Rain eases off fast: just 2.7 days and 16mm, though the long rains are still tapering. Highs sit at 33.1°C with 11.2 hours of sun. Conditions improve enough that the month scores ok, and Labour Day falls on 1 May.
33°C / 22°C · 1 rain days · 10.6 h sun
June turns dry, with only 0.5 rain days and 4mm for the whole month. Highs average 32.8°C and lows 21.5°C, with 10.6 hours of sun. This dry stretch earns a solid ok score, and Madaraka Day is marked on 1 June.
32°C / 21°C · 1 rain days · 9.9 h sun
July is the driest and coolest of the dry months, with highs of 32.1°C and lows of 20.9°C. Rain days drop to 0.7 and rainfall to just 3mm, though sun hours dip to 9.9, the lowest of the year. It scores the best of the dry season months.
33°C / 21°C · 1 rain days · 10.3 h sun
August stays dry, with 0.7 rain days and only 2mm of rain. Highs climb back to 32.6°C and sun hours recover to 10.3. This is another strong month on the scorecard, continuing the dry-season run.
34°C / 21°C · 1 rain days · 11.2 h sun
September brings the warmest dry-season highs, 33.8°C, alongside almost no rain: 0.5 days and just 1mm. Sun hours rise to 11.2. The dry, bright weather keeps the month in ok territory.
34°C / 22°C · 6 rain days · 11.5 h sun
Rain returns noticeably in October, 5.7 days and 36mm, as the short rains begin to build. Highs stay warm at 33.6°C with 11.5 hours of sun. The shift toward wetter weather pushes this month into the lower-scoring range. Mazingira Day falls on 10 October and Mashujaa Day on 20 October.
31°C / 21°C · 15 rain days · 10.8 h sun
November is the wettest month of the year, with 15.4 rain days and 104mm of rainfall, part of the short rains. Highs drop to 30.6°C, the coolest daytime figure recorded, and sun hours fall to 10.8. Despite the heavy rain, the month still scores ok overall.
31°C / 21°C · 8 rain days · 11.1 h sun
Rain eases again to 7.7 days and 38mm, while highs sit at 31°C and lows at 20.9°C with 11.1 hours of sun. This combination of calmer weather gives December the highest score of the year, rated good. Jamhuri Day falls on 12 December, followed by Christmas Day on 25 December and Boxing Day on 26 December.
By trip type
City sightseeing
December and July both bring low rainfall, with just 0.7 rain days and 3mm of rain in July, and 7.7 rain days in December. Highs sit around 31-32°C, making sightseeing comfortable without heavy downpours interrupting plans.
Hiking & nature
July is the driest month for trails, with only 0.7 rain days and 3mm of rain, keeping paths firm underfoot. December is also workable, with 7.7 rain days but a milder high of 31°C, good for longer treks without midday heat.
Events calendar
Public holidays: New Year's Day (1 Jan)
Public holidays: Good Friday (3 Apr), Easter Monday (6 Apr)
Public holidays: Labour Day (1 May)
Public holidays: Madaraka Day (1 Jun)
Public holidays: Mazingira Day (10 Oct), Mashujaa Day (20 Oct)
Public holidays: Jamhuri Day (12 Dec), Christmas Day (25 Dec), Boxing Day (26 Dec)
Keep planning
FAQ
Yes. August has a score of 5.1 out of 10, with just 0.7 rain days and 2 mm of rain for the month. Highs reach 32.6°C with 10.3 hours of sun a day, making it one of the drier, more reliable months to travel.
Yes, December is the best-rated month, scoring 6 out of 10. It brings 38 mm of rain over 7.7 rain days, highs of 31°C and 11.1 hours of sunshine daily, giving a good mix of warmth and manageable rainfall.
No, April scores lowest at 2.8 out of 10. It's the wettest period, with 93 mm of rain spread over 13 rain days and only 10.5 hours of sun. Expect frequent showers if you travel during this month.
Yes, November is the wettest month, with 104 mm of rain over 15.4 rain days, the highest rain-day count of the year. Highs drop slightly to 30.6°C and sun hours fall to 10.8, so pack for rain if you travel then.
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