Nairobi has activated its multi-agency emergency command centre at Charter Hall, City Hall, as the county steps up preparations for the expected El Niño rains. The exercise brings together Nairobi City County, the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC), Kenya Red Cross, Kenya Coast Guard, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and other multi-agency response teams. This move aims to place all agencies involved in Nairobi’s El Niño preparedness under one command.
The command centre is part of the County's push to enhance disaster-response systems. According to the Nairobi County Disaster Management department, about 25,000 residents may require post-disaster support if the rains pound as predicted. Bramwel Simiyu, Chief Officer for Disaster Management, stated that up to 20,000 households may be affected, mostly in high hotspot areas. This translates to around 100,000 members of the public that need to be handled.
Governor Johnson Sakaja says Charter Hall will serve as the Crisis Communication Centre and Emergency Operations Command Post. He directed teams to accelerate drainage and flood-mitigation works in known hotspots, while authorities intensify efforts to clear waterways and remove structures obstructing drainage corridors. The goal is to save lives and property, and to work diligently.
Sakaja also directed the multi-agency teams to facilitate the movement of residents from dangerous sections along the Mathare, Ngong and Nairobi rivers. He stressed that the exercise is intended to save lives rather than displace communities. The Governor emphasized that occupying riparian land is non-negotiable, and residents must move to avoid danger.
The establishment of the Charter Hall command centre is expected to provide a single coordination point for the various agencies during the rainy season. This will ensure that emergency information is shared quickly and that response teams work from a coordinated plan. The multi-agency team will work together to respond to emergencies and mitigate the effects of the El Niño rains.
The National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) and other agencies are working closely with Nairobi City County to prepare for the El Niño rains. The Kenya Red Cross and Kenya Coast Guard are also part of the multi-agency team. Their collaboration aims to minimize the impact of the expected rains and ensure a coordinated response to emergencies.
Key efforts are being made to mitigate the effects of the El Niño rains in Nairobi. These include clearing waterways, removing structures obstructing drainage corridors, and evacuating residents from high-risk areas. The county government, NDOC, and other agencies are working together to implement these measures and ensure a coordinated response to emergencies.
Key points
- Nairobi activates multi-agency command centre to prepare for El Niño rains
- Up to 20,000 households may be affected by the El Niño rains
- Governor Sakaja directs teams to accelerate drainage and flood-mitigation works in known hotspots
