Kenya Meteorological Department

What Kenya Meteorological Department does

Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) is the Government of Kenya's designated National Meteorological and Hydrological Service, established in its current form in 1926 with roots in weather observation dating to the 1890s. Operating under the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry and headquartered at Dagoretti Corner in Nairobi, KMD provides official weather forecasts, climate services, and early warning products for all 47 Kenyan counties, supported by an observation network of 173+ automatic, manual, and agrometeorological stations and integrated satellite data from EUMETSAT's Meteosat Third Generation. Its product portfolio spans daily to seasonal forecasts, marine and Lake Victoria fishing forecasts, dekadal and monthly agrometeorological bulletins, flood bulletins, a malaria epidemic prediction early warning system, and the flagship annual State of the Climate Kenya Report, delivered through the meteo.go.ke website, MapViewer, Maproom, CAP Alerts, and a multi-language social media presence.

KMD's technology stack combines traditional numerical weather prediction, GIS-based visualization tools, satellite data assimilation, and WMO Information System 2.0 compliant data exchange. Through its subsidiary Institute for Meteorological Training and Research (IMTR) — a WMO Regional Training Centre — KMD serves as the principal capacity-building hub for meteorological professionals across English-speaking Africa, training personnel from 16+ countries. The department holds a statutory monopoly on official weather and climate services and operates under a regulatory mandate as Kenya's Permanent Representative to the WMO.

KMD is funded primarily through Government of Kenya appropriations with supplementary donor financing from the European Union, CREWS Initiative, Adaptation Fund, FAO, and Columbia University AICCRA. Fee-based revenue streams are limited and include meteorological consultancy, sale of processed climate data products in formats such as CSV, Geo-tiffs, WMS, and PDF, and educational facility tours priced at Ksh30 per primary learner and Ksh50 per secondary/tertiary student. Strategic partners include the UK Met Office, EUMETSAT, ICPAC, Kenya Red Cross, KALRO, and emerging bilateral relationships with Meteo France International, the China Meteorological Administration, and the Iran Meteorological Organization.

Name

Kenya Meteorological Department

Legal name

Kenya Meteorological Department

Website

https://meteo.go.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kenya Meteorological Department is the Government of Kenya's National Meteorological and Hydrological Service, providing official weather forecasts, climate services, and early warning products across all 47 counties from 173+ observation stations, and operating IMTR as a WMO Regional Training Centre for English-speaking Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Meteorological Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Data Management Platforms (EHS/EMS, LIMS, ELN, Compliance Data Hubs) (EUAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) & Preparedness (BPADADAK), Humanitarian Coordination, Information Management & Needs Assessment (BPADADAL), Disease & Condition Surveillance Programs (HLAJANAB)

Keywords

• Weather forecasting services
• Climate monitoring services
• Early warning systems
• Agrometeorological advisories
• Marine meteorological services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Core operational funding provided by the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry
2. Meteorological Consultancy Services: Fee-based consultancy services for specialized meteorological analysis, training, and technical assistance to various sectors
3. Educational Facility Tours: Revenue from school visits: Ksh30 per primary school learner, Ksh50 per secondary school/college/university student
4. Climate Data Products: Sale of processed climate data in various formats (CSV, Geo-tiffs, WMS, PDF) to businesses and research institutions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) is Kenya's national meteorological service providing authoritative weather forecasts across multiple timescales (daily, 5-day, 7-day, monthly, seasonal), specialized sectoral bulletins for agriculture, marine, aviation, and health, and early warning systems for floods and disease outbreaks. KMD also operates the WMO Regional Training Centre (IMTR) and manages a 173+ station observation network integrated with Meteosat satellite data to deliver public, government, and commercial meteorological services.

Product overview

The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) operates as Kenya's National Meteorological and Hydrological Service, providing a comprehensive suite of weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and specialized meteorological services. The portfolio includes core forecast products spanning daily, 5-day, 7-day, monthly, and seasonal timescales; specialized agricultural (agrometeorological bulletins, fishing forecasts), marine (daily and 7-day marine forecasts for the Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria), and early warning products (flood bulletins, malaria epidemic prediction system); and data tools including MapViewer, Maproom, and satellite imagery platforms. The department also provides consultancy services for aviation, climate change, and general meteorological applications. All services are built upon data from Kenya's national observation network of over 170 stations and integrated satellite data from EUMETSAT. The offerings follow a platform-plus-services architecture where the core forecasting infrastructure supports both public-facing products and specialized sector-specific applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Daily Forecast Provides day-to-day weather predictions for various locations across Kenya, enabling citizens and sectors to plan daily activities and operations.
• 5-Day Forecast Five-day weather outlook providing medium-term forecasts for planning purposes across agricultural, commercial, and personal use cases.
• 7-Day Forecast Extended weekly weather forecast covering a full week ahead, supporting longer-term planning for weather-sensitive sectors.
• County Forecasts Localized weather predictions tailored to each of Kenya's 47 counties, including seasonal, weekly, and monthly outlooks alongside agro-advisories for regional stakeholders.
• Monthly Forecast Monthly aggregated weather predictions helping sectors plan medium-term operations with anticipated rainfall and temperature patterns.
• Seasonal Forecast Long-range climate predictions for multi-month seasons such as March-May long rains or October-December short rains, enabling agricultural, water resource, and disaster preparedness planning.
• Daily Marine Forecast Day-to-day marine weather conditions including sea state, wind, and visibility for coastal and maritime operations.
• 7-Day Marine Forecast Extended marine weather outlook covering seven days for fishing, shipping, and coastal activities along Kenya's Indian Ocean coastline and Lake Victoria.
• Lake Victoria Fishing Forecast Specialized forecast for Lake Victoria fishing communities providing weather conditions relevant to fishing operations and safety on the lake.
• Dekadal Agrometeorological Bulletin Ten-day agricultural weather bulletin providing crop-specific meteorological information supporting farming decision-making across Kenya's agricultural regions.
• Monthly Agrometeorological Bulletin Monthly aggregated agricultural weather report helping farmers and agricultural planners assess monthly climate patterns and their impacts on crop production.
• Flood Bulletin Hazard bulletin providing flood risk assessments and early warnings to help communities in flood-prone areas prepare for and respond to flooding events.
• Weekly Biometeorological Bulletin Weekly bulletin on the intersection of weather and biological/health conditions, providing climate-related health advisories for disease prevention.
• Malaria Epidemic Prediction Early Warning System Disease early warning system that predicts malaria epidemic risk based on climatic factors, enabling proactive public health interventions.
• State of the Climate Kenya Report Annual flagship report documenting Kenya's climate trends, extremes, and variability, providing scientific basis for climate policy and adaptation planning.
• MapViewer Interactive web-based mapping tool allowing users to explore weather observations, forecasts, and climate data spatially across Kenya through various map layers.
• Maproom Web-based data visualization platform providing access to climate data, analysis tools, and map-based climate information products.
• Satellite Imagery Live satellite imagery viewer providing Natural Colour Enhanced RGB, precipitation rate, cloud top height, and infrared imagery from Meteosat satellites for real-time weather monitoring.
• Climate Data Management Services Services for collecting, processing, quality controlling, and archiving meteorological and climatological data from Kenya's observation network.
• Aviation Meteorological Services Specialized meteorological services for aviation including terminal aerodrome forecasts, SIGMETs, and upper-air observations for flight operations and safety.
• Meteorological Consultancy Customized meteorological consulting services for specific projects, events, or sector-specific applications requiring tailored weather and climate expertise.
• Climate Change Services Advisory and analytical services related to climate change impacts, adaptation strategies, and mitigation support for various sectors and stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 households reached with early warnings during 2024 floods
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and emerging.

• World Meteorological Organization (WMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKMD serves as the Permanent Representative of Kenya with WMO. The organization hosts the WMO Regional Training Centre (WMO/RTC IMTR) in Nairobi, providing specialized meteorological training to African nations. Active collaboration on Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), WIS 2.0, and various capacity building initiatives.
• UK Met OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing bilateral partnership for meteorological capacity building, technology transfer, and technical collaboration on weather forecasting and climate services.
• European UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding and support through various climate adaptation and resilience programs including ClimSA project and support for PUMA stations across Sub-Saharan Africa.
• IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional collaboration on climate prediction, applications, and integration of air quality data into climate services for the Greater Horn of Africa region.
• Kenya Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on early warning systems, disaster preparedness, and anticipatory action for climate-related emergencies including floods and droughts.
• Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and ForestrycoreOthersParent ministry providing oversight, policy direction, and administrative support to KMD. The Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary have conducted visits to reinforce commitment to climate resilience.
• Meteo France InternationalmajorTechnology or IntegrationNon-binding agreement signed in May 2026 to modernize Kenya Meteorological Services Agency (KMSA) capabilities in weather/climate monitoring, flood risk management, and meteorological service delivery.
• Trans-African Hydro-Meteorological Observatory (TAHMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver decade-long partnership for weather station network expansion and maintenance. TAHMO founder Professor John Selker conducted ARCUS project tours visiting KMD and IMTR testbed sites, with stations achieving above 95% uptime through QA/QC monitoring.
• EUMETSATcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for satellite data access through PUMA and ClimSA stations utilizing Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) satellite imagery. KMD is first in Africa to receive ClimSA equipment.
• African Union CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner under ClimSA program supporting installation of satellite data infrastructure across Sub-Saharan Africa. KMD serves as main training centre for English-speaking Africa region.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Agricultural Climate Resilience Enhancement Initiative (ACREI), implementing climate adaptation strategies for smallholder farmers in the Horn of Africa from 2018 to 2021.
• China Meteorological Administration (CMA)majorTechnology or IntegrationBilateral discussions in December 2024 focused on Early Warning Systems collaboration. CMA delegation visited KMD for technical exchanges and potential areas of partnership.
• Iran Meteorological OrganizationemergingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOctober 2025 visit exploring collaboration in operational research and specialized training, particularly in agrometeorology. Further discussions planned to build staff capacity.
• Columbia University (AICCRA Project)majorTechnology or IntegrationSponsorship of Advanced Data Tools and Climate Data Tools Training at IMTR in December 2024 under the AICCRA (Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa) project.
• Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in driving integration of air quality data into Regional Framework for Climate Services (RfCS) for IGAD region, led by ICPAC in partnership with UNEP.
• Taita Taveta County CommunitiesOthersLocal communities in Taita Taveta County collaborated in Participatory Scenario Planning (PSP) process under ACREI initiative, integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific forecasting.
• FEWSNETmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for capacity building workshop on advanced downscaling techniques for County Directors of Meteorology, providing technical assistance for high-resolution climate products.
• Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on agricultural climate resilience, with KALRO stations hosting agrometeorological equipment for climate-smart agriculture research and applications.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA): Tanzania's national meteorological authority operating under a similar East African government mandate. Functions as a regional peer within the ICPAC/Greater Horn of Africa climate services framework alongside KMD.
• Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA): Uganda's national meteorological authority providing weather and climate services under a comparable East African government mandate. Functions as a regional peer and ICPAC partner alongside KMD.

Others

• Trans-African Hydro-Meteorological Observatory (TAHMO): A decade-long partner of KMD for weather station network expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa, achieving over 95% station uptime. Operates as an enabling infrastructure partner rather than a service competitor.
• EUMETSAT: The European satellite agency providing Meteosat data that KMD integrates into its satellite imagery platform. Functions as an upstream data infrastructure partner rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• UK Met Office: The United Kingdom's national meteorological service, providing comprehensive weather and climate services. KMD has a long-standing bilateral partnership with the Met Office for capacity building and technology transfer, making it a directly comparable national met service peer.
• Météo-France: France's national meteorological service, which signed a May 2026 modernization agreement with KMD. Operates a similar full suite of public forecasts, aviation services, and climate products, making it a directly comparable peer.
• South African Weather Service (SAWS): South Africa's national meteorological service operating under a similar government mandate, providing public weather forecasts, aviation services, and climate data. SAWS is the most operationally analogous African national met service to KMD.

Broad incumbents

• AccuWeather: A leading commercial weather forecasting company that distributes forecasts globally. Represents the commercial competitive threat to KMD's public-facing forecast products, especially in aviation and media channels.
• ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts): An intergovernmental organization producing global numerical weather predictions consumed by national meteorological services including KMD. Represents a broader incumbent in upstream climate modeling that KMD leverages for its forecasts.
• NOAA (National Weather Service): The United States' national weather and climate agency, providing the broadest global benchmark for national meteorological service delivery. Comparable in mandate scope though vastly larger in scale and resources than KMD.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer.php
• Xx.com/post
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kenya-meteorological-department

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kenya Meteorological Department