NAIROBI, Kenya Aug 18 – Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has convened a multi-agency team and established five sub-committees to coordinate the city’s preparedness for the expected El Niño rains, as KSh2.4 billion in drainage and flood-mitigation works gets underway across flood-prone areas.

📻 Breaking It Down

The City Hall meeting brought together the Kenya Red Cross, Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), National Disaster Management Authority, Nairobi County Disaster Management Team, the Environment Department, Nairobi Rivers Commission and other key agencies.

Sakaja said the multi-agency approach is intended to ensure Nairobi prepares early, coordinates its response and protects lives and property.

“This calls for us to prepare together, act early and protect lives and property,” Sakaja said.

📌 What You Need to Know

Of the KSh2.4 billion, KSh2 billion has been allocated to drainage and flood-mitigation works targeting 19 roads in flood-prone areas.

The works are at an advanced stage, with tenders awarded and contractors expected to commence implementation after completion of the necessary processes.

The programme will complement ongoing county efforts to overhaul Nairobi’s drainage network, including the Nairobi Regeneration Programme, while addressing roads and other critical infrastructure repeatedly affected by flooding.

Sakaja said the investment was intended to address the city’s long-standing flooding problems.

“The KSh2 billion will support a comprehensive drainage overhaul that complements the ongoing Nairobi Regeneration Programme. Our goal is to permanently address the flooding challenges that have affected the city for many years,” he said.

The multi-agency team has identified 227 flood hotspots across Nairobi’s 17 sub-counties, which will guide preparedness, resource deployment and emergency interventions.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya