Weather in Nairobi

Nairobi is in Kenya at 1.3°S. The 2001–2020 NASA POWER daily record describes a Mediterranean pattern: dry summers and wetter winters. March is the warmest month (average 22.4°C, high 29.3°C) and July is the coolest (average 19.4°C, low 12.6°C).

Rain is rainy season runs from April to May, inside an annual total of 602 mm. The wettest month is April at 114 mm; the driest is July at 17 mm. On this site the months that score closest to a 22°C day, lighter rain, and moderate humidity are February, July, and September.

Best months to visit Nairobi

The three months with the highest comfort score are February, July, and September: February (22.1°C average, 29 mm, 59% humidity); July (19.4°C average, 17 mm, 64% humidity); September (21.1°C average, 20 mm, 59% humidity). They fall in calendar order. The score rewards averages near 22°C, lower rainfall, and humidity near 60%. It is a climate score, not a festival or price calendar.

If you want the rainy season itself — fewer crowds, greener landscape, heavier rain — aim at April–May instead of the score.

Temperature through the year

Nairobi has a 3.0°C gap between its coolest monthly average (19.4°C in July) and its warmest (22.4°C in March). That is a southern-hemisphere pattern.

Mean high across all twelve months is 27.6°C and mean low is 14.3°C. These are 20-year grid averages, so a city station can read a few degrees warmer or cooler.

Rainfall pattern

The rainy season in Nairobi starts in April and ends in May (April and May). April is the core of it at 114 mm. July is the other extreme, with 17 mm.

A rainy day here is a day with at least 1 mm in the NASA POWER series. April averages 21 such days; July averages 4.

What stands out month by month

March is the warmest month. Afternoon highs average 29.3°C and nights settle near 15.5°C, with 64 mm of rain. The rainy season opens in April. Expect 114 mm and 21 rainy days, with nights around 15.6°C.

July is the coolest month, with lows around 12.6°C and highs near 26.2°C. Rainfall is 17 mm.

How Nairobi compares inside Kenya

Kakamega is about 288 km away: Nairobi is 1.0°C warmer than Kakamega in its hottest month and 1348 mm drier over the year than Kakamega. Kakamega’s wettest month is April (275 mm) versus April here.

Mombasa is about 442 km away: Nairobi is 7.4°C cooler than Mombasa in its hottest month and 292 mm drier over the year than Mombasa. Mombasa’s wettest month is May (217 mm) versus April here.