Sakaja unites agencies under one command to accelerate Nairobi flood preparations

Sakaja on Monday received progress reports from multi-agency teams involved in the city’s preparedness efforts, including the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO), National Police Service, Green Nairobi, Disaster Management teams, Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Red Cross and Nairobi’s boroughs.

The agencies briefed the governor on works completed, ongoing interventions and additional measures required ahead of the rains.

Sakaja directed the teams to accelerate ongoing drainage and flood-mitigation works, particularly in areas identified as flood hotspots.

He said the various agencies should work under a coordinated system to ensure faster decision-making, information sharing and response during the rainy season.

“All the agencies involved have to be represented at the highest level so that we can make decisions from our command centre. We just need to have the people needed here,” Sakaja said.

The governor said Charter Hall would be converted into a central command centre where representatives from the different agencies would coordinate operations and provide a common flow of information.

“Let us all accelerate the works that are already ongoing. This Charter Hall will be changed to one command centre for all, so that we have one report and one communication. As we do so, let us all unite and do our job together. What should be our charge is to save lives and property and to work diligently,” he said.

Nairobi has been undertaking drainage clearance, desilting, widening and deepening of waterways, while additional earth-moving equipment has been deployed to areas considered vulnerable to flooding.

Sakaja also directed authorities to relocate residents living along major rivers and on riparian land in areas considered high-risk.

He said some residents had already moved voluntarily, while those who remain in dangerous areas would be required to relocate as authorities intensify enforcement.

“Occupying riparian land is non-negotiable. You must move. We do not want you to die. For those who have moved, that is the way to go. For those who have not, the teams have been directed to move you,” he said.

The governor said evacuation efforts would target vulnerable settlements along the Mathare, Ngong and Nairobi rivers, citing previous loss of lives in areas prone to flooding.

“We have lost many lives along these rivers in the past, and we shall not allow this to continue,” he said.

Sakaja said the exercise was intended to protect residents from danger and should not be viewed as displacement.

“Let me make it clear: evacuating people is from the dangerous places, not displacing them. We are saving them,” he said.

He cited ongoing interventions along Naivasha Road, where authorities are working with residents to facilitate evacuation from vulnerable areas while clearing blocked waterways and drainage channels.

“This is not about politics; it is about our people. It is about saving lives and property,” Sakaja said.

The governor also attributed improved coordination at the local level to the establishment of six Nairobi boroughs, each headed by a borough manager.

The boroughs are Central, Northern, Eastern, South Eastern, Southern and Western Nairobi.

Sakaja directed representatives of the participating agencies to maintain close coordination, share progress reports and provide residents with timely and consistent information as the city prepares for the rainy season.