Sakaja gives contractors 14 days to complete Nairobi flood-control works

Sakaja has directed the county's road and drainage teams to prioritise interventions in identified flood hotspots, with works spread across all 17 sub-counties.

The works include drainage improvements, construction of culverts, road rehabilitation, opening of new road links, periodic maintenance and upgrading of selected roads to bitumen standards.

The governor said the priority should be interventions capable of reducing the impact of flooding and protecting residents once the rains begin.

“As you carry out your duties, remember that you are not just doing work; you are saving lives. Your focus must be to work more, do more and, ultimately, save more lives,” he said.

The county has also stepped up the deployment of heavy machinery and coordination with other agencies as it races to complete the most urgent works within the 14-day window.

Among the areas receiving attention are Kawangware, Kabiro, Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Uthiru, Waithaka and Riruta, where road rehabilitation, drainage and culvert works are underway.

In Embakasi, crews are working on several roads and links, including Spring Board Road, Seventh Day Access Road, Ol Leshwa Road, the Jose Maria–AIC Pewa–Charina link and the Mastermind–Catherine Ndereba–Cosma Ndeti–Imara Daima link.

Works are also ongoing in Kasarani, Ruai, Mwiki, Roysambu, Githurai and Kahawa West, as well as Westlands, Parklands, Kangemi, Karen and Lang'ata.

The county says the interventions are intended to improve drainage and road access while addressing areas considered particularly vulnerable to flooding.

Sakaja has instructed engineers and contractors to give flood-prone areas priority and ensure critical works are completed before the rains intensify.

The 14-day deadline puts pressure on the county's implementation teams to accelerate ongoing projects, with the governor describing the preparations as a life-saving exercise rather than routine road maintenance.