Nairobi Intensifies El Niño Preparedness as 16 Flood Hotspots Receive Urgent Attention
By Shadrack Mutai – Nairobi, Kenya
Nairobi County has stepped up preparations for the anticipated El Niño rains, with Governor Johnson Sakaja directing multi-agency teams to strengthen the city’s readiness and minimise the impact of flooding and other emergencies.
The county’s multi-agency coordination team held its second meeting on Thursday, where five sub-committees presented progress reports and agreed on a coordinated response bringing together county departments and other relevant agencies.
Governor Sakaja said the county is mobilising all available resources to ensure a rapid and effective response to emergencies associated with heavy rainfall.
“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,” Sakaja said.
16 Flood Hotspots Identified
The county has identified 16 flood-prone hotspots requiring urgent intervention as part of its preparedness measures.
Drainage works are already underway in several areas, including Mombasa Road, Chiromo, Kangundo Road and Thika Road, where teams are clearing and deepening drainage systems to improve water flow and reduce the risk of flooding.
The interventions are aimed at addressing vulnerable drainage infrastructure before heavy rains intensify, while also reducing disruptions to transport and businesses in affected areas.
Emergency Response Strengthened
Beyond drainage interventions, Nairobi County is strengthening its emergency and disaster response capacity through joint training of response teams.
The training is intended to improve coordination among different agencies and enable emergency personnel to respond more quickly to incidents arising from heavy rainfall, flooding and related disasters.
The county is also establishing an emergency response centre that will receive and coordinate distress calls from residents and facilitate faster deployment of response teams.
Residents can report emergencies through the county’s designated hotlines 1199 and 1508.
The county government says the combined measures are intended to improve Nairobi’s preparedness, strengthen inter-agency coordination and protect lives and property as the city braces for potentially heavy rains.
