Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has issued a directive to sub-county administrators requiring them to ensure all structures erected on drainage systems are demolished.
Speaking while unveiling measures to mitigate effects of the El Nino on Monday, September 11, Sakaja affirmed that all structures erected along the systems will be demolished regardless of their owners.
“The people who have built structures or business stalls on the drainage lines, I don’t want to see them. Demolish them from today,” Sakaja stated.
Further, the Nairobi County Chief put landowners with buildings encroaching on riverbeds on notice.
According to him, the county government will crackdown on all structures built in such places- insisting that he would not let selfish interests pose flood threats to the people of Nairobi.
Nairobi to deploy 3,000 youth
What’s more, the Nairobi County Government outlined a raft of measures in preparation for the anticipated El Nino rains.
The county’s County Executive Committee member for Environment Ibrahim Auma Nyangoya announced plans to deploy 3,000 youth to help in various tasks as part of the measures.
Also read: Cs Murkomen to Fix Nairobi Roads as Floods Ravage
According to him, the county government has already provided them with necessary equipment and tools to facilitate their activities.
Their work will range from unclogging drainage systems within the county to cleaning estates, according to the CEC.
Also unveiled in the event was a fleet of trucks, tractors and other machinery to help with logistics and emergency response.
Also read: Met Department Warns of El Nino Rains
El Nino headache in Nairobi
The event on Monday, September 11, came after concerns over lack of preparedness from the county government despite warnings of the impending El Nino.
In early September, some major roads in the city were rendered impassable following two days of heavy rainfall.
This sparked reactions from Kenyans on social media platforms who called for effective measures ahead of the rain season.
In August, the Kenya Meteorological Department noted that there was a high possibility for the country to experience El Nino.
This was the second time this year that the weather department issued a report predicting the El Nino after a period of short rains.
