Residents of Nairobi may soon see relief from the annual flood disruptions after President William Ruto unveiled a bold plan to tackle the city’s drainage challenges.
Speaking at State House on Tuesday, he announced that the government will provide an extra Sh1 billion dedicated to improving drainage systems before the next rainy season.
The President called on relevant ministries and agencies to act with urgency, stressing that temporary measures must be put in place immediately and permanent solutions completed within a year.
“We will provide Sh1 billion dedicated to drainage improvement. We all know what happens to Nairobi City when it rains, and my instructions to both the Ministry of Infrastructure and Roads and Housing are that we do not want a flooded city this year,” Ruto said.
“You have to move with speed that we do what we have to do. If there will be any flooding, it should be minimal; by next year, we should have corrected the problem that we have,” he added.
Beyond drainage, the government plans to invest Sh9 billion in constructing two parallel 27-kilometre trunk sewer lines along the Nairobi River. A new Sh6 billion sewer treatment plant will process 60,000 cubic litres of water per day, ensuring the system can serve the city for at least the next four decades.
Last-mile sewer connections will receive Sh3 billion, while long-term sewer expansion projects across Nairobi have been allocated Sh15 billion.
Transport infrastructure is also a key part of the initiative, with Sh8.7 billion earmarked for roads, bridges, and associated drainage works.
Sh2 billion will complete Phase One of Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) projects within the next two months, while Phase Two will begin in April with Sh1.7 billion covering 57 kilometres of roads. Phase Three, valued at Sh5 billion, will be implemented within the current financial year in consultation with the Nairobi County Assembly.
President Ruto highlighted that road networks in every ward will also be upgraded under the Sh5 billion Mobility and Safety Programme, supported by Sh3.7 billion from Nairobi City County. The national government’s Sh1 billion top-up for drainage works will complement existing county efforts already valued at Sh3.7 billion.
“We all know when it rains, what happens to the city of Nairobi,” the President said, emphasizing the urgency of the anti-flooding drive. The announcement comes as authorities race to modernize the city’s aging stormwater and sewer systems that have contributed to repeated flooding during heavy rains.
