Sakaja Begins Flood Evacuations as Nairobi Prepares for El Niño

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has confirmed that the county government has started evacuating residents in flood-prone areas along Naivasha Road ahead of the El Niño rains.

In a statement released on Monday, September 28, Sakaja said the county has already identified hotspot zones and urged relevant agencies to focus their mitigation efforts there first.

He also ordered the removal of residents living along major rivers and on riparian land from high-risk areas, saying the move is aimed at protecting lives. Sakaja noted that many residents have already relocated voluntarily, while those who remain in dangerous areas will be required to move as authorities step up enforcement.

“Sakaja said the County and its partners would continue evacuating residents living in high-risk areas along the Mathare, Ngong and Nairobi rivers.”

The Nairobi County said it provided Naivasha Road as an example of how agencies are coordinating their response. It said authorities are working with residents to help evacuate people from vulnerable areas, while also clearing blocked waterways and drainage channels to reduce flooding.

Sakaja also confirmed that preparation and rescue efforts will be coordinated within the city’s six boroughs to enable faster action at the local level.

He urged the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO), the National Police Service (NPS), Green Nairobi, Disaster Management teams, KURA, KeNHA, the Kenya Red Cross, and Nairobi boroughs to designate one representative each. He said this would allow all agencies to operate under a unified command structure, coordinate activities, share reports, and provide residents with timely updates.

The County Chief added that, in the meantime, teams are working to address drainage and other flood-mitigation interventions.

Meanwhile, the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards issued food safety guidelines to households, food vendors, and residential estates ahead of expected El Niño-enhanced rainfall in the coming weeks.

The department urged residents and businesses to start preparations before the rains begin, saying early preventive steps would lower health risks during the rainy season.

It also warned that floodwater could mix with sewage and contaminate shallow wells, boreholes, and piped water—especially in low-lying areas.

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