NAIROBI, Kenya — Authorities have ordered an urgent multi-agency response to ongoing flooding in the capital, directing technical teams to prepare a comprehensive 48-hour action plan to address damaged infrastructure and blocked drainage systems.
The directive was issued on Monday by the Implementation Committee overseeing the cooperation agreement between the national government and Nairobi City County.
Speaking after the meeting, Johnson Sakaja said the plan will take effect immediately and focus on restoring critical infrastructure affected by the floods.
“Under the immediate response plan, infrastructure agencies have been tasked with conducting a joint assessment of flood damage and submitting a costed recovery plan within 48 hours, focusing on heavily affected road corridors and drainage systems across the city,” Sakaja said.
The meeting brought together principal secretaries and senior officials from key national and county agencies, including the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the Water Resources Authority, and the National Treasury.
Technical teams were also instructed to map flood-prone areas across Nairobi’s 17 sub-counties, identify blocked drainage systems, and prioritise de-silting and road repairs to mitigate further flooding during the ongoing rainy season.
“In addition, a multi-agency taskforce has been ordered to intensify enforcement and recovery of riparian and floodplain areas to restore the natural flow of rivers and reduce recurrent flooding in vulnerable neighbourhoods,” Sakaja added.
Authorities further reported that a major water transmission pipeline along Outer Ring Road, which had been damaged by the floods, has been repaired. The restoration has resumed water supply to the estates of Buruburu, Kariobangi, Dandora, and parts of Mathare.
However, repair works on distribution lines supplying Kiambiu and Korogocho are still ongoing.
Meanwhile, county public health teams have been deployed to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks in affected neighbourhoods.
Officials said more than 300 households and sanitation facilities have already been disinfected, while over 4,000 household water treatment supplies have been distributed. In addition, 30 schools in flood-affected areas have been sanitised, helping safeguard approximately 3,800 students.
Sakaja emphasised that the “single-window” implementation approach between the national and county governments is expected to accelerate recovery efforts and streamline resource mobilisation.
The committee is scheduled to reconvene on March 19 to review progress on the 48-hour implementation report and assess whether the agreed measures are translating into tangible action on the ground.
