Sakaja unveils six-point plan to tackle El Niño floods in Nairobi

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja inspects ongoing works in the city/HANDOUT

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has unveiled a six-point plan being implemented by a multi-agency team to protect lives and property as the capital braces for El Niño rains.

‎The measures include clearing waterways and drainage systems, relocating residents from flood-prone areas, strengthening community preparedness and improving the capacity of emergency teams to respond to flooding.

‎Speaking in his latest podcast on Nairobi’s preparedness for the rains, Sakaja said the county was working with national agencies to ensure the city was ready to respond to emergencies before, during and after heavy rainfall.

‎The first intervention involves restoring the capacity of Nairobi’s major waterways, including the Nairobi, Ngong and Mathare rivers and their tributaries.

‎The county is undertaking desilting, dredging and deepening of waterways, as well as reclaiming riparian corridors, to improve water flow and reduce the risk of rivers bursting their banks.

‎“We have all the machinery required for this work. So far, we have addressed the areas that needed intervention, and the work is still ongoing,” Sakaja said.

‎The second pillar targets residents living in areas considered vulnerable to flooding.

Ongoing works in some parts of Nairobi city county/HANDOUT‎Sakaja said the county was encouraging residents living along waterways and riparian reserves to voluntarily move to safer areas.

‎He cited Naivasha Road and Githogoro among areas where residents had cooperated with efforts to remove structures built on waterways.

‎“This is to ensure that no lives are lost and property is protected,” he said.

‎The third intervention focuses on keeping drainage systems and waterways free of garbage, which can obstruct the flow of stormwater and worsen flooding.

‎The county has deployed 4,500 Green Army workers to clean and unclog drainage systems and collect waste across the city.

‎Sakaja said Nairobi generates about 3,200 tonnes of garbage daily, which is collected for disposal.

‎He urged residents to support the county’s efforts by avoiding littering and dumping waste in drainage channels.

‎“The public can also help us by not littering and by ensuring that their workplaces and surroundings are kept clean,” he said.

‎The fourth pillar is built around Nairobi’s six-borough administrative system, which the governor said would improve community mobilisation and preparedness.

‎Borough managers are conducting civic education sessions to educate residents on preparing for heavy rains, areas to avoid and what to do in case of flooding.

Ongoing drainage works in some parts of Nairobi city county/HANDOUT‎Sakaja said the borough structure had strengthened the county’s ability to coordinate interventions and communicate with residents at the local level.

‎The fifth intervention brings together county and national agencies under a coordinated emergency response framework.

‎The multi-agency team includes the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), Kenya Red Cross, National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) and the Nairobi County Disaster Management team, among others.

‎The agencies are expected to coordinate preparedness, emergency evacuations, rescue operations and recovery efforts.

‎The county has also established an Emergency Operations Centre at Charter Hall, where senior representatives of the agencies can coordinate responses and make rapid decisions during emergencies.

‎“We have all the agencies represented at the highest level to enable quick decision-making and response to emergencies, including evacuations,” Sakaja said.

‎The sixth intervention focuses on strengthening the preparedness and response capacity of emergency teams through training and simulation exercises.

‎Members of the multi-agency team have undergone training on responding to El Niño-related emergencies, while a two-day simulation exercise was conducted at Uhuru Park to test their coordination and response capabilities.

‎Sakaja said the exercise was intended to identify gaps in the city’s emergency response system and ensure agencies could work together effectively during flooding incidents.

‎The governor said early intervention, community preparedness and coordination among government agencies would be critical in reducing the impact of the rains.

‎The measures come as Nairobi continues to face recurring flooding during periods of heavy rainfall, with blocked drainage systems, construction along waterways and settlements in flood-prone areas often worsening the impact of storms.

‎Sakaja said the county would continue monitoring vulnerable areas and working with national agencies to ensure that emergency teams were ready to respond when needed.