Governor Johnson Sakaja has officially issued an El Niño alert, warning city residents to brace for above-normal rainfall expected to hit the capital in October. Speaking during a comprehensive disaster preparedness review at Uhuru Park, Sakaja announced that the county has initiated a multi-agency strategy to mitigate severe flooding risks, protect lives, and secure critical infrastructure. The county government has already mapped out 16 flood hotspots requiring urgent physical intervention, including major transit sections along Mombasa Road, Chiromo, Kangundo Road, and Thika Road, where drainage channels are currently being cleared, widened, and deepened.
To finance these extensive operations, the county has established a Sh2.4 billion flood resilience program, with Sh2 billion specifically allocated for drainage upgrades and structural mitigation projects across 19 vulnerable roads. The governor has deployed a massive workforce, including the newly launched “Green Nairobi” team and 3,500 newly absorbed environment officers, to systematically unclog blocked drainage systems and remove tons of illegally dumped waste obstructing stormwater pathways. The directives follow predictions from the Kenya Meteorological Department warning that wetter-than-usual conditions could trigger urban disruptions.
Governor Sakaja also ordered the immediate demolition of structures built on riparian land or blocking drainage trenches, stating, “We can’t risk the lives of thousands of Nairobians at the expense of protecting the business of one person.”
To handle emergencies, the county activated a response center with toll-free hotlines (1199 and 1508) and deployed an emergency fleet of trucks, fire engines, and ambulances. Joint training with entities like the Kenya Red Cross aims to streamline disaster response.