[HOLD!!] Sakaja administration unclogs city drainage, repairs burst sewers ahead of long rains

After a lot of criticism over the failure to reduce the suffering Nairobi residents endure any time there is a heavy downpour, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration has started unclogging drainages and fixing burst sewers in the city ahead of the long rains in March.

When The Eastleigh Voice toured parts of the city on Thursday, workers were fixing burst sewers around Ngara while others unclogged drainage that is filled with mud and waste.

On Tom Mboya, Moi Avenue and Ronald Ngala streets, re-carpeting of damaged roads was going on as pedestrians and motorists were directed to use alternative routes.

“To avoid the experience of last year where we lost lives and properties following heavy flooding in parts of the city. The county is fixing broken sewerage systems and unclogging drainages,” a worker who preferred to remain anonymous said.

Recently, Sakaja admitted Nairobi's drainage system was overwhelmed. This was after images of vehicles driving through flooded sections of the city emerged following heavy rains.

Last week, County Chief Officer for Roads Fredrick Karanja explained that the current sewer lines were designed to operate at half capacity but are now frequently overwhelmed.

Recurrent flooding

On his part, Sakaja said the city's drainage system is struggling to handle the heavy rainfall that has led to recurring flooding across the capital.

The governor blamed the unavailability of funds for the city's inability to properly address the ongoing flooding menace but also pointed to some progress made in the past year.

He said some streets like Kipande Road have now been cleared of flooding, though he acknowledged that these improvements alone do not solve the deeper issue of the city's ageing infrastructure.

"The problem with drainage is not blockage as much right now. It's mainly just a capacity issue. The rains we have are extremely higher than before, but of course, we need to expand the infrastructure," Sakaja said.

He said that the Green Army, a youth initiative contracted by the county, has made strides in clearing clogged drains. However, their efforts have proven insufficient when the city faces heavy downpours.

"We have already cleared most drainages which were done by the Green Army, but when you pour excess water, it will flood but it will settle. However, to solve the flooding situation, we need to invest heavily in the expansion of drainage," he added.

Several roads across Nairobi were flooded during the recent rains. In one of the worst incidents, a perimeter wall on Valley Road collapsed, blocking a section of the road and causing even further delays.

A growing city

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• [HOLD!!] Sakaja administration unclogs city drainage
• repairs burst sewers ahead of long rains

The recurring floods have exposed the long-standing issue with Nairobi's drainage system, built decades ago, which can no longer cope with the challenges of a growing city.

The system was designed when Nairobi's population was under 500,000, but with the city now home to almost five million people, the infrastructure has failed to keep up.

This mismatch between population growth and infrastructure has left the city vulnerable to the worst effects of climate change.

The old system, designed to serve a much smaller city, routinely overflows during heavy rains, especially in the central business district and surrounding areas.

The situation is worsened by a growing population, and experts have suggested that to overhaul the system, significant changes, including the demolition of some buildings, might be necessary.

The county has also outlined a plan to restore roads and improve drainage in Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Lavington, and other key areas affected by rapid urban development.

Speaking during a recent media interview, Sakaja also acknowledged that many roads in these areas have deteriorated due to heavy trucks transporting construction materials to various sites.

He emphasised that it is the responsibility of contractors to maintain and restore roads damaged during construction.

“It must be clear that contractors are required to maintain the roads as they build. Once construction is complete, they must redo the roads, failure to do so will result in the denial of occupational licenses,” Sakaja stated.

To address the issue, the county government will ensure that all roads and drainage systems adjacent to construction sites are repaired by the developers responsible. In addition, Sakaja revealed that the county has a broader plan to re-carpet roads across the city.