Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has pushed back against criticism over the heavy flooding that hit several parts of the capital after intense rainfall on Friday evening.
Speaking during a televised interview, the governor said he would not step down despite growing pressure from residents who blamed the county administration for poor drainage and planning.
Many Nairobians have faulted the city leadership for failing to improve drainage systems, saying recurring floods are often worsened by rapid urban growth and weak urban planning.
However, Sakaja maintained that he remains committed to fixing the city’s problems and insisted that his administration is doing its best within the financial constraints facing the county government.
He said transforming Nairobi requires major long-term investment, noting that the current drainage infrastructure cannot adequately handle the increasingly heavy rainfall being experienced.
According to the governor, limited revenue collection has also slowed development projects. He explained that most of the county’s income comes from parking fees and small businesses, while many large taxpayers remain non-compliant.
Sakaja added that a large portion of the county’s monthly allocation from the national government goes toward salaries and administrative costs, leaving little funding for major infrastructure projects.
The governor further stated that the county government will not compensate residents and motorists who suffered losses during the floods, arguing that several affected roads fall under the national government rather than the county.
He said solving Nairobi’s persistent infrastructure challenges will require substantial financing, estimating that at least Sh60 billion would be needed to transform the city to international standards.
Sakaja also expressed confidence that the recently proposed cooperation agreement between the national government and the Nairobi County administration would help address the city’s long-standing problems.
Under the proposed partnership, billions of shillings will be invested in improving the road network and installing thousands of street lights across the capital.
