Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has ordered the evacuation of residents living in high-risk riparian areas as the county intensifies preparations for the anticipated El Niño rains in the coming weeks.
Sakaja convened a meeting to assess ongoing flood-mitigation efforts and directed agencies involved in disaster preparedness and emergency response to coordinate fully ahead of the rainy season.
He warned officials against being intimidated by political interference, saying the protection of lives and property must remain the top priority.
Sakaja Orders Evacuation From High-risk Areas
During the meeting, Sakaja directed residents in high-risk riparian zones to relocate to safer locations before the onset of heavy rains.
Residents living in riparian areas along the Mathare, Ngong, and Nairobi rivers, as county and national governments accelerate flood-mitigation work across the capital.
The governor said securing riparian land was non-negotiable and that authorities would proceed with evacuation plans targeting settlements along the city’s major rivers.
According to the county head, some residents have already moved after receiving earlier advisories, although thousands remain in vulnerable areas.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the government had identified areas in Nairobi where residents could be moved to temporary holding grounds if their safety was threatened.
Nairobi County has identified 27 drop-off points and shelters for use during evacuations. The county has also established an Emergency Operations Center and a dedicated 1508 hotline through which residents can report flooding and other emergencies.
Multi-Agency Teams Ordered to Work Under One Command
The meeting brought together representatives from the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), National Police Service, Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Red Cross, Green Nairobi teams, county disaster management units and Nairobi borough officials.
Sakaja directed all agencies involved in preparedness operations to work under a unified command structure, insisting that coordinated action would be critical in tackling the threat posed by heavy rains and possible flooding.
The governor instructed the teams to operate under what he described as “one team, one command, one control and one direction”, to improve coordination between county departments, national government agencies and humanitarian organizations.
Earlier meetings chaired by the governor reviewed progress made on drainage rehabilitation, road infrastructure and flood-control measures in vulnerable areas across Nairobi.
Officials briefed the governor on interventions already underway in flood-prone neighborhoods as authorities seek to prevent the recurrence of the devastating flooding that previously affected homes, businesses and major transport routes in the city.
County Intensifies Drainage and Flood-Mitigation Works
Sakaja directed engineers and contractors to speed up drainage improvement works, desilting programs and other flood-mitigation projects in identified hotspots across Nairobi.
Among the major projects currently underway is the rehabilitation of critical drainage corridors, including ongoing works along the KIRDI-Bellevue axis extending to the main outfall along Mombasa Road.
Sakaja, through the Nairobi City County Government, announced plans to prepare a new development plan for the Nairobi River Corridor, with the process set to begin on September 25, 2026.
According to the notice, the proposed plan will provide a framework for river regeneration and flood hazard mitigation within the Nairobi River corridor
At the same time, the governor has intensified enforcement against illegal dumping of waste into drainage systems and waterways.
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