KMA says tropical cyclone weak, will not affect Kenya's coast

By Tobby Otum

The tropical cyclone Job is weak and its strength is broken and is thus unable to adversely affect the country’s coastal strip.

Kenya Maritime Authority [KMA] Director General Robert Mutegi Njue said the cyclone has no effect along the coastal line after weakening.

He said initial reports indicated it will hit Zanzibar and Dar-es-salaam as it made its way along the coastal area but it is weak and its strength is broken.

“The cyclone Jobo is a normal one and is caused by strong winds that cycle within the ocean and end up on the shore,” he pointed out.

Njue said the cyclone Jobo did not cause any havoc as it was anticipated by the Tanzania Meteorological Authority [TMA] when crossing over.

He spoke when addressing journalists at Sarova Whitesands beach hotel in Nyali constituency, Mombasa county during a two day workshop on sensitization on plastic litter saying he is optimistic they will find a permanent solution.

TheKMA Director General said the country’s government agencies will issue a marine notice on the state of weather data for the next one week.

Njue refuted claims the government did not issue a notice to the region’s residents on the change in the conditions of the weather.

He told journalists that they will be updating those living along the shores of the Indian Ocean on the status of the tropical cyclone.

“There are changes and we will continue to update those using the Indian Ocean in terms of the wind pace along the coastal strip,” he pointed out.

The KMA boss said the country hosts regional marine rescue coordination centre which coordinates the activities in the whole region and not Kenya alone.