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VOL. 13, ISSUE 2 (2026)
Seismicity rates around the Kenya Rift System
Authors
Ayodeji Adekunle Eluyemi, Michael Ayuk Ayuk, A P Adesope, Timothy Oluwatobi Agbaje, Peter Adetokunbo
Abstract
This study examines
seismic activity trends in Kenya between 1980 and 2025, with a focus on the
underlying tectonic drivers and their implications for hazard assessment.
Located along the divergent boundary between the African and Somali plates, the
region is characterized by moderate to high seismicity, predominantly involving
shallow earthquakes alongside notable off-rift events. The research employs
frequency–magnitude distribution analyses to assess temporal variations in
seismic behavior. The results indicate a dynamic and evolving seismic regime. A
cumulative event analysis from 1980 to 2023 reveals a pronounced increase in
both low- and high-magnitude earthquakes beginning in the mid-1990s.
Complementary Z-map analysis, comparing the periods 1980–2002 and 2002–2023,
identifies a clear shift from a dominance of microseismic activity in the
earlier interval to a greater occurrence of moderate to large earthquakes in
the latter period. This transition is further supported by frequency–magnitude
distribution patterns, which show a decline in overall event rates, consistent
with findings from b-value analysis. Taken together, these results suggest a
significant transformation in the seismic characteristics of the region, marked
by an increasing proportion of higher-magnitude events. This evolving pattern
underscores a persistent and changing seismic hazard, highlighting the need for
a reassessment of regional seismic risk.
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Pages:300-306
How to cite this article:
Ayodeji Adekunle Eluyemi, Michael Ayuk Ayuk, A P Adesope, Timothy Oluwatobi Agbaje, Peter Adetokunbo "Seismicity rates around the Kenya Rift System". International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, Vol 13, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 300-306
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