City flooding woes: Sakaja admits Nairobi's drainage system is overwhelmed
County Chief Officer for Roads Fredrick Karanja said the current sewer lines were designed to operate at half capacity but are now frequently overwhelmed.
More than two years into his tenure, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has admitted the city's drainage system is struggling to handle the heavy rainfall that has led to recurring flooding across the capital.
In an interview on Wednesday morning, Sakaja partly 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.
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Despite the ongoing challenges, Sakaja has expressed optimism about the future.
He said certain roads, 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.
The Nairobi governor said while the Green Army, a youth initiative contracted by the county, has made strides in clearing clogged drains, 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.
Nairobi's flooding menace
The flooding has continued to wreak havoc in various parts of the city whenever it rains heavily.
In the last few days, two people have drowned following heavy rains in parts of Nairobi.
Police have warned residents to avoid rivers and flooded areas, as most water bodies running through the city have been swollen beyond their usual capacity.
Meanwhile, the rains have also caused significant disruptions.
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.
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.
Outdated infrastructure
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.
As early as 2019, City Hall acknowledged that the drainage system, designed after independence, was no longer fit for its purpose.
"The planners did not foresee the population increase. The design of the city and major roads leading to the CBD makes it hard to properly address drainage in the CBD and the city outskirts," said Vesca Kangogo, the former Water Executive.
The old system, designed to serve a much smaller city, routinely overflows during heavy rains, especially in the central business district (CBD) 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.
County Chief Officer for Roads Fredrick Karanja said the current sewer lines were designed to operate at half capacity but are now frequently overwhelmed.
"We need to invest in a stormwater masterplan for the entire city, which is lacking," Karanja said.
"Inadequate design of a stormwater system automatically contributes to flooding. A big investment is required to separate the stormwater drainage and the sewer lines to stop the overflow, especially in the CBD," he added.
Though Sakaja had earlier acknowledged the heavy toll the floods have taken on the city's infrastructure, he insisted that tackling the issue will require significant investment and long-term planning.
As the city braces for more rainfall in the coming weeks, many are left questioning how long the current system can hold up under the strain.
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