Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has issued a 14-day deadline to Nairobi City County and Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) engineers and contractors to complete key drainage and road projects as the city prepares for the anticipated El Niño rains.
Sakaja said the order was intended to fast-track works in areas prone to flooding and strengthen Nairobi’s readiness ahead of the expected heavy rains.
“We have directed our teams to accelerate the ongoing works, particularly in known flood hotspots, to improve drainage and reduce the risk of flooding ahead of the expected rains,” Sakaja said.
Nairobi has identified 227 flood hotspots across the city’s 17 sub-counties, with authorities focusing resources on locations considered particularly vulnerable to flooding.
Areas including Mukuru, Pipeline, Imara Daima, Kware, Kibera, Nyayo Highrise, Nairobi West, Madaraka, Lang’ata and parts of Embakasi are being flagged for close monitoring and possible evacuation support.
The mapping is thus being used to guide the deployment of equipment and emergency response preparations.
The county is currently implementing a Ksh2.4 billion multi-agency flood mitigation programme, including Ksh2 billion allocated to drainage and flood-control projects targeting 19 roads prone to flooding.
The ongoing interventions include clearing, desilting, widening and deepening drainage channels, alongside the deployment of additional earth-moving machinery to high-risk locations. County teams have also been clearing blocked drains and waterways across various parts of Nairobi.
The measures are expected to improve stormwater drainage, minimise flooding on roads and help protect homes and businesses in vulnerable areas.
Residents living in high-risk and riparian zones have also been advised to adhere to safety guidelines as the rainy season approaches.
"The preparations were being coordinated through a multi-agency framework involving Nairobi County, KURA, KeNHA, KeRRA, Kenya Red Cross, the National Disaster Management Authority and the Nairobi Rivers Commission," Sakaja said.
Authorities have further established five committees to coordinate infrastructure and drainage, emergency response and evacuation, shelter and relief, security and traffic, as well as public communication during the rainy period.
The county has also established an emergency operations centre and activated the 1508 hotline for residents to report incidents. In addition, 27 drop-off points and shelters have been identified for use in accommodating residents evacuated from flood-affected areas.
The preparations come as Deputy President Kithure Kindiki announced that the government had identified areas in Nairobi where residents could be relocated to temporary holding grounds if the anticipated rains pose a danger to their safety.
Speaking at a multi-agency preparedness meeting in Karen on Thursday, September 24, Kindiki said the government was preparing for heavy rainfall expected from the second and third weeks of October.
He said the national government was coordinating with Nairobi County and agencies responsible for roads, drainage, urban development and energy to limit the effects of the anticipated rains.
According to Kindiki, weather projections indicate significant rainfall that could heighten the risk of flooding, damage roads and drainage infrastructure and disrupt electricity supply.
Sakaja’s 14-day deadline places immediate emphasis on completing critical drainage and road works before the rains begin, while the broader emergency response measures are intended to protect residents in case flooding occurs despite the ongoing mitigation efforts.
