Governor Sakaja Launches Aggressive Nairobi Flood Mitigation Plan with Immediate Riverbank Demolitions

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja initiates the demolition of illegal structures on riparian land. Read the details of the 2026 flood mitigation plan.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 10:49 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from TUKO.co.ke

Reclaiming the Riparian Zones

In a decisive move to address the perennial flooding that has plagued Kenya's capital, Governor Johnson Sakaja has initiated a large-scale demolition exercise targeting illegal structures built on riparian land. Speaking on Thursday, March 19, 2026, during an inspection in the Westgate area of Westlands, the Governor confirmed that the operation follows the submission of a critical 48-hour action report by the Infrastructure Subcommittee. The mandate is clear: restore the city's natural waterways to their original capacity to prevent the recurring loss of life and property during heavy rainfall.

The Westlands Bottleneck and Technical Restoration

A primary focus of the initial phase is the Westgate area, where authorities discovered that an entire river section had been confined into a small culvert, severely restricting water flow. Heavy machinery is currently on-site to reopen these channels and dredge debris that has accumulated over years of neglect and illegal dumping. Governor Sakaja emphasized that the narrowing of rivers into small pipes is a major contributor to flash floods in the business district. By reopening these "water bottlenecks," the county aims to significantly increase the volume of water the drainage system can handle during peak storms.

Targeted Areas and Enforcement Without Exception

The enforcement exercise is not limited to Westlands. Several high-risk zones have been earmarked for immediate action, including: