Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson has initiated a series of measures to prepare the city for the anticipated El Niño rains. These measures include accelerated drainage works and the deployment of additional heavy machinery. The governor has emphasized the urgency of these preparations, directing engineers and contractors to prioritize critical drainage and road works in known flood hotspots.
The governor has issued a 14-day deadline for engineers and contractors to complete critical drainage and road works. This directive was given during a meeting with Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) Director-General Silas Kinoti, engineers, and contractors. Sakaja stressed that the works must be treated as a life-saving intervention, urging them to work more and save more lives.
The county has deployed more earth-moving equipment to flood hotspots, including the critical drainage corridor from the KIRDI/Bellevue axis to the main outfall along Mombasa Road. Teams are widening, deepening, and desilting drainage channels in these areas. Additionally, Sakaja has waived application and approval requirements for minor building repairs until the onset of the rains.
The waiver allows residents to install gutters and undertake minor works on their homes and compounds without the usual approvals. This move aims to encourage residents to take proactive measures to prepare for the rains. The governor has also intensified the crackdown on illegal dumping, warning private waste collectors that licences will be withdrawn if they are found dumping waste in open spaces or waterways.
Nairobi’s preparedness operation is being coordinated through a “One County, One Plan, One Command” approach involving multiple agencies. These agencies include the County Government, KURA, KeNHA, KeRRA, Kenya Red Cross, and Nairobi Rivers Commission. The county has established an Emergency Operations Centre and activated an emergency hotline, 1508.
The county has identified 27 drop-off points and shelters for possible evacuations. A multi-agency simulation exercise is also planned to test the city’s emergency response systems. Sakaja has urged residents in riparian and flood-prone areas to relocate to safer locations and called on Nairobians to take early measures, including clearing drainage channels around their homes and installing gutters.
The governor emphasized the need for proactive measures, stating that the county cannot wait for the rains to come before acting. The county's efforts aim to mitigate the impact of the anticipated El Niño rains and ensure the safety of its residents.
Key points
- Governor Sakaja issues 14-day deadline for critical drainage and road works
- County waives approvals for minor building repairs to prepare for El Niño rains
- Nairobi coordinates preparedness through a multi-agency "One County, One Plan, One Command" approach
