Storm destroys four hotels at Dunga Beach in Kisumu, Kenya, injuring four people

Strong winds and heavy rain destroyed four hotels at Dunga Beach in Kisumu County and injured four people on the evening of 8 November, Citizen Digital reported on 10 November. Dozens of makeshift structures were flattened. The value of the property lost is not yet known.

In Vihiga County, winds destroyed three houses and flattened crops in Em'machika village.

The storm began as heavy rain and grew into strong winds. Fransisca Odhiambo, whose house at Dunga Beach was destroyed, described how people fled when an electricity pole fell. "Nyumba ilibomoka, stima ikabomoka chini, tukatafuta tu njia ya kutoroka," she said in Swahili, which translates as: the house collapsed, the power pole came down, and we just looked for a way to escape.

Trader Emmanuel Otieno said residents feared they would not survive the winds. In Em'machika, Joseph Ondere was forced out of his home after his roof was blown away. Wilberforce Kuta said a fallen tree had brought down an electricity line and asked Kenya Power to come and help. Affected residents are waiting for urgent assistance from disaster management authorities.

Both counties were on the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority's above-average list for the October–December short rains. Its technical statement from the 13th National Climate Outlook Forum, issued on 26 August 2026 under reference KMSA/FCST/08-2026/TS/02, names Kisumu and Vihiga among the counties expected to receive above-average rainfall (section 1.1). Nairobi, Mombasa, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kilifi and Kwale are on the same list.

Table 1 of the statement (section 1.2.2) gives the rains in Kisumu and Vihiga as continuing from September into January, with fair to good distribution. The season will be marked by prolonged wet spells and occasional isolated storms over several parts of the country (section 1.2.1).

The authority's monthly forecast, issued on 2 November, kept that outlook. Edward Muriuki, the authority's acting director, said most parts of the country were expected to receive above-average rainfall in November and December, The Star reported on 4 November. The weekly outlook for 3 to 10 November included parts of both Kisumu and Vihiga.

In the week to 10 November the weather service had issued alerts for heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms, including in the Lake Victoria Basin, Citizen Digital reported. Its latest forecast projects more heavy rain in parts of the country, including the Coast and the Lake Victoria Basin.

An advisory reported by Citizen Digital on 25 October covered Kisumu, Vihiga and parts of Nairobi, among other counties. It expected more than 20 millimetres of rain in 24 hours in parts of the country and warned of flash floods and reduced visibility. The weather service urged residents to remain vigilant and motorists to take care in flood-prone areas.