The storm then began a period of rapid intensification, ultimately peaking as an intense tropical cyclone with 10-minute sustained winds of 215 km/h (134 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 934 hPa (27.58 inHg).

At that time, Kenneth began to undergo an eyewall replacement cycle and weakened slightly, before making landfall later that day as an intense tropical cyclone.

[7] Soon after, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a tropical cyclone formation alert, noting that the disturbance was located in a favorable environment with low vertical wind shear and warm sea surface temperatures of 29–30 °C (84–86 °F).

At that time, the MFR stated that an eye was attempting to form within the central dense overcast of the storm, and that wind shear was beginning to decrease.

At that time, the Hahaya International Airport on the Comoros island of Grand Comore reported winds of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) while Kenneth was located about 55 km (34 mi) to the north.

[16] Six hours later, the MFR upgraded Kenneth to intense tropical cyclone status, noting that the storm had a very cold convective ring and that the core had become more compact.

[17] On 25 April, at 06:00 UTC, Kenneth reached peak intensity, with 10-minute sustained winds of 215 km/h (134 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 934 hPa (27.58 inHg).

At that time, Kenneth had a pinhole eye surrounded by very strong convection; however, the storm also began to undergo an eyewall replacement cycle.

[19] As Kenneth approached the Mozambique coastline, the system slowly began to weaken due to the eyewall replacement cycle and the frictional effects of land interaction.

Later that day, at 13:15 UTC, Kenneth made landfall in Mozambique as an intense tropical cyclone, just north of Pemba, with 1-minute sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph), equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane.

At 00:00 UTC on 26 April, the MFR issued its last warning on Kenneth, reporting 10-minute sustained winds of 65 km/h (40 mph), while the system was located about 110 km (68 mi) inland in Mozambique.

[28][29] Kenneth struck Mozambique about a month after Cyclone Idai had devastated the northern part of the country, raising fears that the ongoing humanitarian crisis there could be worsened by the storm.

[4] Cyclone Kenneth made landfall just north of Pemba, Mozambique on Thursday evening, 25 April, at about 4:15 p.m., local time (12:15 UTC), with 1-minute sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph).