Former KNUT Chair Wilson Sossion has warned that Kenya is experiencing unprecedented rainfall and floods due to climate change, calling for urgent infrastructure and urban planning reforms.
Speaking on Monday, he stressed the need for upgraded drainage, sewage systems, enforcement of riparian laws, and reimagined city planning to prevent further loss of life and property in both urban and rural areas.
Sossion noted that the country has previously faced prolonged droughts that led to livestock losses, but the recent floods are far more destructive, claiming lives and damaging property across both urban and rural areas.
He stressed that these events signal a clear need to rethink how cities and settlements are planned and managed.
“Scientists have been advising us that rainfall patterns are changing drastically due to climate change,” Sossion said. “The rains will be extreme, coming with floods that are abnormal. We must understand that these are not normal rains, and the country must adapt.”
A key recommendation by Sossion is the reconfiguration of urban infrastructure to cope with the volume of floodwaters.
He pointed out that current drainage and sewage systems in cities like Nairobi are inadequate, resulting in repeated flooding and preventable fatalities.
Sossion urged authorities to invest in improved drainage networks, modern sewage systems, and urban planning measures capable of managing extreme weather events.
He also emphasised the importance of government coordination, noting that collaboration between national and county governments is essential.
“Where there is cooperation, for example in Nairobi, we should fast-track improvements so that drainage and sewage systems can be managed effectively, preventing further loss of life,” he said.
The debate comes against the backdrop of Kenya grappling with severe flooding since early March 2026, when unusually heavy rainfall caused rivers, notably the Nairobi River, to burst their banks and inundate large parts of the capital and other regions.
The floods, driven by intense downpours during the March–May “long rains,” led to widespread disruption of transport, infrastructure damage and loss of life across multiple counties.
According to official figures from the National Police Service, at least 66 people have died as a result of the floods, with the worst‑affected locations including Nairobi, Eastern and Rift Valley regions.
Of these deaths, 33 occurred in Nairobi alone, where flash floods swept away vehicles, flooded homes and even disrupted operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The Kenyan government activated a multi‑agency emergency response, involving security forces, technical departments and humanitarian partners to lead rescue, evacuation and recovery efforts.
President William Ruto directed the deployment of emergency services, clearing blocked drainage systems and coordinating assistance for displaced families.
The government authorities also mapped dozens of high‑risk flood zones in Nairobi to prioritise response and mitigation efforts.
Humanitarian organisations, including the Kenya Red Cross Society, have been active on the ground, assisting with rescue operations, reaching stranded residents and supporting local search teams.
The Red Cross admitted that the scale of flooding initially caught responders off guard, stretching resources as teams worked across multiple counties to help those affected and provide relief supplies.
Authorities continue to urge residents to heed safety advisories, evacuate high‑risk areas, and cooperate with emergency services as heavy rains persist, with thousands of families displaced and ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact and prevent further casualties.
Enforcement of existing environmental laws is another area Sossion highlighted. He criticised the occupation of riparian ecosystems by human settlements, which exacerbates flooding risks.
“If we enforce the existing laws prudently, we would not be losing lives because rivers would be able to reclaim their riparian ecosystems instead of being obstructed by settlements,” he explained.
He further called for more stringent measures to prevent construction in hazardous areas.
The former KNUT leader also stressed that flood risks are not confined to urban centres. Rural areas have witnessed similar disasters, including new waterways forming in places like Mayu and El Marquetta, where lives have been lost and communities displaced.
Sossion claimed that climate change impacts are now a nationwide phenomenon requiring both local and national interventions.
He concluded that Kenya must accept the “new norm” of extreme weather patterns and take proactive measures to save lives.
These include strategic urban planning, robust infrastructure development, and strict adherence to environmental regulations.
He described such interventions as critical to ensuring that the country is better prepared for future climate-related disasters.
The former KNUT Chair’s warning comes at a time when Kenya and other nations are experiencing unprecedented climate events, with devastating floods reported in Germany and other developed countries.
He underscored that Kenya must learn from global experiences and invest in resilient infrastructure to minimise human and economic losses.
As extreme weather events become increasingly frequent, Sossion’s comments serve as a call to action for policymakers, urban planners, and communities to implement sustainable and adaptive strategies.
Without urgent measures, he warned, Kenya will continue to face devastating floods and a growing humanitarian and economic crisis.
Sossion’s statements provide a clear blueprint for action: reconfigure city infrastructure, modernise drainage and sewage systems, enforce riparian and environmental laws, regulate settlements, and develop coordinated strategies between national and county governments.
Only through such comprehensive measures, he insists, can Kenya mitigate the effects of climate change and protect its citizens from future disasters.