Residents across parts of Nairobi are counting losses after devastating floods swept through several neighbourhoods following heavy rains, leaving destruction, displaced families and loss of lives.
In a statement on Saturday, Edwin Sifuna acknowledged the gravity of the disaster, describing the flooding as an indictment of leadership and promising that authorities must do better.
“As part of the leadership in Nairobi, you will hear no excuses from me. Yesterday’s flood situation was an indictment. We know it’s a sum total of many failures but mostly failures of leadership,” said Sifuna.
Heavy rains triggered flooding in several estates across the capital, forcing some residents to spend the night on roads while others watched helplessly as water swept through homes and businesses.
According to the Nairobi County disaster team, multiple lives were lost during the flooding, although officials had not released the exact number of casualties by Saturday.
Sifuna said his office had already dispatched teams to assess the extent of the damage and determine how best to support affected families.
“For all those who slept on the roads, those counting losses from the flood damage, poleni sana,” he said. “Sadly, the County disaster team has confirmed to me that multiple lives were also lost.”
The senator added that the disaster highlights the urgent need to rethink how the city manages its drainage systems.
“It is obvious that we need a comprehensive review of how the city drains because the piecemeal interventions are not working,” he said.
Flooding has long been a recurring problem in the capital, with blocked drainage systems, poor urban planning and rapid construction blamed for worsening the situation. Informal settlements built along riverbanks and drainage corridors have also increased the risk to residents during heavy rains.
Over the years, successive administrations at Nairobi City County Government have faced criticism for failing to address the city’s drainage challenges despite repeated flooding incidents. Previous leaders, including former governor Mike Sonko and current governor Johnson Sakaja, have pledged to upgrade drainage infrastructure and clear blocked waterways, but residents say the problem persists.
Urban experts have warned that Nairobi’s ageing drainage system, much of it built decades ago when the population was significantly smaller, is no longer able to handle the volume of storm water produced by intense rainfall and expanding urban development.
As emergency teams continued assessing affected areas on Saturday, residents in several estates began clearing debris and salvaging what they could from water-damaged homes and businesses.
Sifuna also conveyed his condolences to families who lost loved ones in the tragedy.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones last night. Poleni sana,” he said.
