One of the factors that led to the Bata factory in Kenya being set up at Limuru in the 1930's, was pleasant weather.

Contrary to popular belief, the weather in Limuru is not all gloomy and cloudy all the time. Mostly it is cool and pleasant and when it gets sunny, it is not the scorching kind of sun. However, it gets really cold during some months.

One amazing thing about Limuru is that you can have four different types of weather in one day. It can be chilly in the morning, warmer in the mid morning, rainy in the early afternoon and hot in the late afternoon. The most interesting thing with Limuru is that mostly when it rains, it rains at night.

Monday July 25th was a typical cold and cloudy July day in Limuru. By lunch time, the lighter clouds had been replaced by the heavier darker clouds. It was obvious it was going to rain, that evening. 

At around half past three in the afternoon, the heavens opened. This was not your ordinary rain. It was the heaviest of downpours Limuru has seen in years. It was a hailstorm. In 10 minutes the ground was covered in white.

"I have never seen anything like this!" , said one as he took a photo out of his office window.

For around 20 minutes the downpour continued. But by the time Bata staff were going home shorthly after 5:00PM, the sun was peeking shyly from behind the clouds and its warmth was gently meliting the pieces of ice that had covered the ground.

They say "as unpredictable as the weather". In Limuru, this phrase definitely holds true.