Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has confirmed that the county government has begun evacuating a section of residents living along Naivasha Road ahead of the El Niño rainfall.
In a statement issued on Monday, September 28, Sakaja confirmed that the County had already identified flood-prone areas and urged agencies to prioritise the hotspots as they implement mitigation measures.
He further directed that residents living along major rivers and on riparian land be moved from high-risk areas, saying the exercise was necessary to protect lives.
Sakaja explained that many residents had already moved voluntarily, while those who remained in dangerous areas would be required to relocate as authorities intensify enforcement.
“Sakaja said the County and its partners would continue evacuating residents living in high-risk areas along the Mathare, Ngong and Nairobi rivers.
“He cited ongoing interventions along Naivasha Road as an example of coordinated action, where authorities are working with residents to facilitate the evacuation of people from vulnerable areas while clearing blocked waterways and drainage channels,” the Nairobi County wrote in a statement.
Sakaja confirmed that the coordination of preparation and rescue missions will be done within the six boroughs to facilitate faster response at the local level.
He urged the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO), National Police Service (NPS), Green Nairobi, Disaster Management teams, KURA, KeNHA, Kenya Red Cross, and Nairobi Boroughs to provide one representative so that all the agencies can work under a unified command structure to coordinate operations, share reports and ensure residents receive timely updates.
The County Chief added that in the meantime, work was underway to address drainage and other flood mitigation interventions.
Earlier, 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 households, food vendors and estates to begin preparations before the rains arrive, noting that early preventive measures would help reduce health risks during the rainy period.
It warned that floodwaters could mix with sewage and contaminate shallow wells, boreholes and piped water, particularly in low-lying areas.