Sakaja orders demolition of illegal riverbank structures to reclaim riparian land, curb flooding

Nairobi Governor and Chair of the Implementation Committee on the Cooperation Agreement has ordered the immediate demolition of illegal structures along riverbanks and the relocation of individuals occupying riparian land, in a sweeping plan to curb persistent flooding in the city.

Speaking in Westlands during an inspection and demolition exercise near the Westgate Shopping Mall area, Sakaja said implementation had begun following the submission of a 48-hour action report by the Infrastructure Subcommittee under the intergovernmental cooperation framework.

“The directive was clear within 48 hours, we needed a concrete action plan to address flooding. I have received that report, and implementation is now underway,” he said.

The operation targets structures that have constricted waterways, with authorities citing cases where rivers had been reduced to narrow culverts unable to handle heavy water flow.

“Here at Westgate, an entire river had been confined into a small culvert. We are reopening it to restore proper water flow,” Sakaja said.

Heavy machinery has been deployed along key sections of the Nairobi River and its tributaries to clear debris, dredge channels, and remove developments blocking natural drainage.

The governor warned that all structures built along waterways will be removed without exception, urging affected residents and developers to vacate voluntarily ahead of enforcement.

“This is not a one-off exercise. It is a sustained effort to reclaim our rivers and prevent further loss of life and property,” he said.

Enforcement is already underway in several hotspots, including Kirichwa in Kilimani, parts of Westlands, sections of the central business district, and downstream zones along the Nairobi River.

In parallel, multi-agency teams are clearing blocked drainage systems and carrying out urgent road repairs in flood-affected areas, with weekly progress reports expected.

Sakaja also called for greater accountability, blaming illegal dumping and non-compliance with approved building plans for worsening the flooding crisis. He urged regulators, including the National Construction Authority, to tighten enforcement.

Nairobi Rivers Commission Commissioner Mumo Musuva confirmed that joint operations are ongoing along major river corridors.

“We are working from Kabete Dam through City Park to Mathare, clearing riparian zones and reclaiming encroached areas,” Musuva said.

Authorities have warned that ongoing heavy rains could exacerbate flooding if mitigation measures are not sustained, reaffirming their commitment to enforcing the plan to safeguard lives and property.

The county government insists that all traders within the 50-metre zone must vacate, adding that an alternative site has already been prepared near the market for temporary use as they await completion of the new market.

"The Gikomba Market demolition will continue as planned. The business people had agreed to move; it is the politicians who are inciting them not to relocate. Some have already moved, and those who remain will have to leave so that the project can continue," Sakaja noted.

A section of traders have however, protested the move, arguing that the set boundary of 50 metres saying that it has been faultily expanded from the earlier 30.

The move is part of a plan to restore the Nairobi River and construct a new Gikomba market. But traders said they did not understand why the relocation area was expanded, even as the government insists all those near the river must move.

Traders have now been given until the end of March to vacate before demolitions begin.