Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has called on residents to take precautionary measures ahead of the El Niño rains expected in October.
Speaking on Sunday, August 30, Sakaja said Nairobi County had activated multi-agency teams to strengthen the city’s preparedness by improving drainage systems and enhancing emergency response and disaster management.
He said the county was taking proactive steps to reduce the impact of possible flooding, including widening, deepening, cleaning and unclogging drainage channels.
Sakaja also urged Nairobi residents to cooperate with government agencies, take part in clean-up exercises and follow official advisories as preparations intensify.
He further appealed to residents living in flood-prone areas to comply promptly with any evacuation directives issued by authorities.
The governor’s remarks came a day after Nairobi City County announced that it had stepped up preparations, with environmental officers, the Green Army and ClimateWorX teams deployed across all 17 sub-counties.
The county said it had mapped flood-prone areas to help response teams identify locations where drainage and water-flow problems require urgent attention.
Teams have also been clearing drainage channels, culverts and waterways, removing silt, garbage and other materials that could obstruct water flow and increase the risk of flooding.
The county has identified 227 flood hotspots across the 17 sub-counties.
As part of its broader flood-mitigation strategy, Nairobi County is implementing Ksh2.4 billion worth of drainage and flood-control projects. Of this amount, Ksh2 billion has been allocated to drainage works along 19 roads considered vulnerable to flooding.
The projects are reportedly at an advanced stage, with tenders already awarded and contractors expected to commence work after completion of the remaining administrative procedures.
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The preparedness framework brings together agencies including the Kenya Red Cross, Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), National Disaster Management Authority, Nairobi County Disaster Management Team, Environment Department and Nairobi Rivers Commission.
Sakaja said the multi-agency approach would allow the county to anticipate risks, coordinate operations and respond more effectively to emergencies.
The drainage programme is expected to complement the ongoing Nairobi Regeneration Programme and address persistent flooding affecting roads and other critical infrastructure across the capital.
According to Sakaja, the Ksh2 billion investment is aimed at delivering a comprehensive overhaul of Nairobi’s drainage network and providing a long-term solution to the city’s recurring flooding challenges.