NAIROBI, Kenya – Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja has admitted that Nairobi’s drainage infrastructure is ill-equipped to handle the intensity of recent heavy rains, saying the city’s systems lack the capacity to cope.
Speaking during an interview, Sakaja acknowledged the city’s long-standing drainage challenges but pointed to some improvements, such as Kipande Road, which has remained flood-free.
However, he emphasized that Nairobi’s drainage problem is less about blockages and more about an overwhelmed system.
“The problem with drainage is not so much blockage right now. It’s mainly just a capacity issue. The rains we have are significantly higher than before, but we need to expand the infrastructure,” Sakaja stated.
His remarks come amid widespread flooding in several parts of the city, leaving residents stranded and businesses disrupted.
The governor also vowed to restore order in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) following his administration’s move to relocate hawkers to designated backstreets.
Under a directive issued on January 6, 2025, hawkers are only allowed to operate from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Monday to Saturday.
However, Sakaja admitted that enforcement has been challenging, partly due to some county officers being too familiar with hawkers.
“They keep trying to come back, but we are raising capacity and changing some inspectorate officers in the CBD because some have grown too close to the hawkers,” he noted.
On the state of Nairobi’s roads, Sakaja clarified that some fall under the national government’s jurisdiction, making it difficult for the county to address all road issues equally.
“Not to shift blame, but some roads are under my purview while others fall under the national government. Nairobi cannot get the same allocation as any other county because of its significance,” he explained.
The governor also condemned increasing cases of vandalism targeting critical infrastructure, revealing that city workers had been attacked on Outering Road. He urged the police to step up security efforts.
“We are working with law enforcement to deal with insecurity, especially vandalism. Some of our workers were recently stabbed on Outering Road,” Sakaja lamented.
Regarding the growing number of high-rise buildings in areas such as Kilimani, Sakaja said the county government has been awaiting an audit report on construction projects for the last two years.
He stressed the need to balance urban development with environmental conservation.
The county has enlisted experts from the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK), and Kenya Institute of Planners (KIP) to review Nairobi’s urban planning policies.
“You must create order in the built environment and ensure we still have green spaces,” he said, adding that developers who flout regulations will not be granted occupational licenses.
Sakaja’s remarks reflect ongoing efforts to address Nairobi’s urban challenges, though many residents remain skeptical about the county’s ability to implement long-term solutions.
