Nairobi County has intensified its flood preparedness measures ahead of anticipated El Niño rains expected between October and February. To minimize the impact of heavy flooding on residents, local authorities have adopted a fully coordinated approach.

Governor Johnson Sakaja led a multi-agency meeting on Monday at the Kenya Railways headquarters to align strategies.

The session brought together key institutions, including the Kenya Red Cross, the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), disaster management teams, and emergency response agencies.

Together, they reviewed ongoing mitigation efforts and outlined measures to prevent a repeat of the destruction caused by previous heavy rainfall seasons.

Speaking during the meeting, Sakaja emphasized that the county is shifting its strategy from reactive disaster response to proactive early preparedness.

He explained that by bringing all relevant agencies together ahead of time, the city will be able to operate as one unified team rather than responding in isolation once the rains begin.

Several key measures have already been put in place.

The county has established a central emergency response center, launched dedicated communication channels for incident reporting, and identified designated rescue sites should evacuations become necessary.

On the ground, “Green Army” teams continue large-scale drainage clearing operations to unclog waterways and remove waste blocking key infrastructure.

Addressing public safety, Sakaja noted that while some residents in high-risk riparian zones have already relocated voluntarily, those remaining must heed official evacuation advisories.

He stressed that preventing further loss of life depends on the public listening to government guidance and moving out of harm’s way.

Authorities have earmarked several flood-prone areas across the city as high-priority zones, with agencies jointly focusing on road maintenance, drainage upgrades, and emergency contingency plans.

As the city braces for the rainy season, county officials are calling on all residents to cooperate by following safety advisories, keeping drainage channels clear of refuse, and avoiding settlements near riverbanks.