The rehabilitation of the historic Nairobi Dam has officially commenced following the conclusion of public participation exercises in Nairobi West and Highrise, setting the stage for restoration works expected to unfold in the coming weeks.
The forums, led by Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson, wrapped up yesterday with residents endorsing urgent measures to address the dam’s deteriorating condition. The engagement process saw locals taken through the planned interventions aimed at restoring the dam to its original state.
Constructed in 1953, Nairobi Dam has for decades suffered from pollution, neglect, and widespread encroachment. In response, the county government has unveiled a three-phase emergency plan to fast-track its rehabilitation and avert potential flooding.
A multi-agency team comprising Nairobi County officials, the Water Resources Authority (WRA), Nairobi Regeneration Commission, disaster response units, and the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company has already begun groundwork.
The first phase involves marking riparian boundaries, with authorities calling on those occupying protected areas to vacate following earlier sensitization.
“We have listened to the residents, and what we are undertaking now is a structured and urgent intervention to restore Nairobi Dam and protect lives and property,” Sakaja said
The second phase will focus on assessing the strength of the dam’s embankment to determine whether it has been compromised. Reinforcement measures will then be carried out to prevent any potential disaster.
“Once we secure the embankment, we will move swiftly to enforce riparian laws and clean up the dam, removing all waste to return it to its original condition,” Sakaja added.
In the coming weeks, authorities will intensify enforcement efforts while rolling out a large-scale clean-up exercise as part of broader plans to tackle flooding and reclaim key environmental assets across the city.
This follows a notice issued by the Water Resources Authority urging residents living downstream of the dam to vacate, as ongoing heavy rains in Nairobi have pushed water levels to near-capacity, posing a risk to hundreds of households along the river.
The warning comes as demolition of structures built along riparian land continues across the city, alongside intensified efforts by county teams to unclog drainage systems.
Meanwhile, construction of new drainage infrastructure, as outlined in the cooperation agreement, is expected to commence soon.
