NAIROBI, Feb. 29 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is set to experience enhanced rainfall between March and May, leading to massive flooding and displacement, thus creating a humanitarian crisis, the country's meteorological service said in its forecast released Thursday.

David Gikungu, director of the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), said that areas expected to receive the enhanced rainfall include the northern, western and central highlands, where the Kenyan capital of Nairobi is located, as well as eastern parts of the country.

"Above-average rainfall is expected in most parts of the country. The season would experience an early start of the rains and occasional dry spells," Gikungu said, noting that some areas could receive over 100 mm of rain per day.

During this period, the country is also expected to record higher-than-average temperatures, with 2023 being noted as the hottest year in Kenya and globally, he added. Gikungu further said that the higher temperatures, averaging about 30 degrees Celsius, would persist for the better part of the rainfall period.

The anticipated heavy rains came about two months after the East African nation experienced El Nino rains between October and December 2023, which resulted in the loss of about 200 lives, destruction of property worth millions and displacement of thousands, especially in arid areas.

These areas are still experiencing the effects of the heavy rains, including an increase in both human and livestock diseases, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.

Among the expected positive impacts of the rains in Kenya are increased food production, reduced conflicts over pasture and water resources, and the filling of hydroelectric dams for enhanced power production, Gikungu noted.

On the other hand, the negative impacts expected include flooding, displacement, mudslides and increased incidence of diseases.

Kenya is among the Horn of Africa countries experiencing increased adverse weather events due to climate change.

In a report released Tuesday, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, a trade bloc in Africa, said that some 58.1 million people in the Greater Horn of Africa region were acutely food insecure due to the effects of the 2023 El Nino rains. Affected countries include Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda, as well as Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. Enditem

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