Sakaja blames Nairobi drainage crisis on funding delays

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has blamed the national government for failing to release road maintenance funds, saying the city’s drainage systems are overwhelmed by unprecedented rains.

Speaking in an interview aired on Wednesday, April 23, Sakaja said  most city drainage systems were designed for much lighter rains and are now unable to cope with recent downpours.

“The amount of rain that is coming down is higher than ever before,” said Sakaja, adding, “A lot of our drains were designed for a smaller capacity of seasonal rain in the city.”

Sakaja noted that while the county has deployed 3,800 youth under the 'Green Army' programme to clear garbage and blocked drainage, this has not been enough to prevent severe flooding in areas like Ojijo Road and Kipande Road in Parklands.

“Kenya built a 1.2-metre drainage for Thika Road, but it connects to a 0.6-metre drain on Ojijo Road. Science will tell you there’ll be a backlog,” said Sakaja.

He added, “To date, it doesn’t flood because we pushed them to complete the job.”

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Sakaja said the Nairobi County government continues to address localised drainage issues, but long-term solutions require national funds.

“We’ve sat with engineers, but the resources needed to expand drainage must come to counties as a right,” said Sakaja, referring to Sh10.5 billion that he said remains frozen by the courts.

His comments come after at least six people died in Nairobi following heavy overnight rains on Monday, which triggered floods and landslides across the city. Among the dead were a 23-year-old mother and her two children in the Drive-In area, Ruaraka Constituency.

The national government has since directed Nairobi County, the Nairobi Sewerage Company and the Nairobi Rivers Commission to urgently fix the city's drainage.

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku said the government has launched urgent measures to reduce the impact of floods.

“This is a heartbreaking tragedy. The government stands with the affected families, and we are committed to taking all necessary steps to protect lives and livelihoods,” said Ruku.

Ruku instructed the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Special Programmes to convene a multi-agency meeting to develop immediate mitigation plans.

He also confirmed that at least 55 households have been affected and nearly 200 people displaced by the floods.

Sakaja called for structural reforms, including the devolution of key road agencies, including the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA).

“Why is the Kenya Rural Roads Authority doing roads in the CBD of Nairobi? It’s not rural,” said Sakaja. “That discussion must be had.”

He said Nairobi has secured a Sh2.6 billion agreement with the national government for road repairs across the city once rains subside, citing a constitutional provision for special arrangements between the capital and national authorities.

 “Some of these roads would otherwise be ignored. We can’t fix them without that partnership,” noted Sakaja.