Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson has urged residents to brace for the El Nino rains expected in October, saying the county government and its partners are taking proactive measures to prevent flooding and minimise the impact of heavy rains across the city.
Speaking in Ikolomani, Kakamega County, where he joined faithful at Bushiangala Church of God for a service and fundraising drive for the construction of a new sanctuary, Sakaja said the government had brought together multiple agencies to strengthen Nairobi’s preparedness.
“El Nino is here in October. This time round, we are doing our best to proactively handle it as government. We have come together with multi-agency teams to make sure we have drainage widening and deepening, cleaning and unclogging, and also civic education for our people,” he said.
The Governor urged Nairobi residents to heed government advisories and cooperate with authorities, particularly in areas likely to be affected by flooding.
He warned residents against waiting until heavy rains arrive before taking action, saying those asked to temporarily vacate vulnerable areas should do so in good time.
“We urge people to listen to the government message, work hard and support the government. If you are needed to vacate, don’t wait until it is late. Participate in cleaning and be alert to government messages,” he said.
His remarks come as Nairobi intensifies its preparations following the second multi-agency meeting held at City Hall this week. The meeting brought together county departments and other agencies, with five sub-committees presenting their reports and agreeing on a coordinated response to flooding and other emergencies associated with the rains.
Sakaja said the multi-agency approach was aimed at ensuring that Nairobi does not wait for disaster to strike before responding.
“El Nino is here with us, and Nairobi must be ready. That is why we are bringing together all available resources and agencies to ensure we respond quickly and effectively and protect our people,” he said.
The county has also begun joint training of emergency response and disaster management teams to improve coordination and ensure rapid deployment when emergencies occur.
The training is intended to create a unified response system capable of handling incidents arising from heavy rainfall, flooding and related emergencies.
“We are jointly training our emergency and disaster response teams so that when incidents arise, we have a coordinated system that can respond immediately and minimise the impact of the rains,” the Governor said.
Nairobi has identified 16 flood hotspots requiring urgent intervention, with drainage clearing, widening and deepening works already underway.
Among the areas receiving attention are sections along Mombasa Road, Chiromo, Kangundo Road and Thika Road, where drainage challenges have previously contributed to flooding during heavy rains.
The county has also established 1199 and 1508 emergency hotline numbers and is setting up an emergency response centre to receive, coordinate and respond to distress calls from residents during emergencies.
Sakaja said the objective was to have the city as prepared as possible before the rains intensify, with county teams working alongside other agencies to reduce the risks posed by flooding.
