NAIROBI, Kenya — Nairobi County has rolled out a Sh2.4 billion flood-mitigation programme as the capital steps up preparations for the expected El Niño rains.
Governor Johnson Sakaja said the county has mapped flood-prone areas and is working with national agencies to improve drainage, clear waterways and prepare for possible evacuations.
The programme brings together the county government, Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), Kenya Red Cross and the Nairobi Rivers Commission, among other agencies.
Sh2bn Set Aside for Drainage Works
Of the Sh2.4 billion programme, Sh2 billion has been allocated to drainage and flood-mitigation works targeting 19 flood-prone roads.
The works include clearing blocked drainage channels, desilting rivers, removing waste and expanding drainage capacity in areas repeatedly affected by heavy rainfall.
Sakaja said contractors had already been awarded projects and were moving to site.
“The Sh2 billion will support a comprehensive drainage overhaul that complements the ongoing Nairobi Regeneration Programme. Our goal is to permanently address the flooding challenges that have affected the city for many years,” he said.
227 Flood Hotspots Mapped
The multi-agency team has identified 227 flood hotspots across Nairobi’s 17 sub-counties to guide preparedness, deployment of equipment and emergency interventions.
The areas include locations with blocked or undersized drains, silted waterways, waste obstructing rivers, flood-prone roads and transport links, as well as areas where emergency access could be compromised during heavy rains.
The county is also monitoring locations where structures have interfered with natural watercourses and areas where vulnerable communities may require early warnings, evacuation and temporary shelter.
Mombasa Road, Kangundo Road Targeted
The county is working with national road agencies to address flooding along major routes, including Mombasa Road and Kangundo Road, where responsibilities for roads and drainage are shared between different levels of government.
Sakaja said the multi-agency approach was intended to prevent agencies from shifting blame when flooding occurs.
“When it floods on the expressway on Mombasa Road, that is under KeNHA. It’s not under the county government. But instead of just sitting and saying it is your problem, we said, let’s come together,” he said.
The governor said drainage improvement works were already underway along Mombasa Road and other identified flood-prone areas.
Nairobi Rivers Face Growing Pressure
City Hall is also stepping up the clearing and desilting of waterways across Nairobi.
Sakaja identified the Mathare, Ngong and Nairobi rivers as particular challenges because development has occurred around their floodplains.
He warned against structures that narrow or obstruct natural waterways.
“We cannot fight with nature. Water will always remember its way,” Sakaja said.
The county’s Green Army teams have also been deployed to unclog drainage systems and remove silt and waste from waterways ahead of the rains.
Emergency Shelters Prepared
Nairobi has established an emergency response centre and dedicated communication channels for residents to report incidents.
The county has also identified rescue centres and shelters where residents can be taken if evacuations become necessary.
Sakaja said the move was informed by lessons from previous floods, when residents were advised to leave high-risk areas without clear information about where they should go.
“The mistake we made last time was that we told people to move. But we didn’t tell them where to move to,” he said.
The county’s multi-agency structure includes committees responsible for infrastructure and drainage, emergency response and evacuation, shelter and relief, security and traffic, and communication.
City Prepares for Heavy Rains
The county’s preparations come as Nairobi braces for wet conditions expected from October through February, according to recent county preparedness updates.
Sakaja said preparations had also been informed by the extreme rainfall Nairobi experienced earlier in the year.
He said the city received 160mm of rain in a single night on March 6, placing significant pressure on its drainage network.
“Any system would be strained by that kind of rain at a go,” Sakaja said.
He urged residents, particularly those living in riparian and other high-risk areas, to follow government advisories and take early action.
“We don’t want to lose lives. The lives we have so far lost should not recur. Let’s listen to government messaging on what to do,” he said.
The county says the combination of drainage upgrades, river clearing, early warnings, evacuation planning and coordinated emergency response is intended to reduce the risk to lives, property and transport as the rains intensify.
