In the wake of the recent fatal floods that have so far claimed 71 lives and left a trail of destruction in the city, the County government of Nairobi has commenced the demolition of illegal structures blamed for the perennial flooding.
Nairobi County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service, Geoffrey Mosiria, confirmed that the exercise is targeting structures erected on drainage systems, waterways, riparian land, and all developments contributing to the crisis that has become a very common experience after just a few hours of rainfall in recent days.
“The County Government has commenced the demolition of illegal structures built on drainage systems, waterways, riparian land, and all developments contributing to flooding within Nairobi,” he confirmed in a statement on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Act now
He urged those behind the structures to remove them, outlining how they contribute to flooding in the city and the resultant risk.
“All residents are required to immediately and voluntarily remove any structures erected on drainage lines, blocked waterways, riverbanks, and riparian reserves. Encroachment on these critical areas has severely compromised the city’s drainage capacity, directly contributing to flooding and placing millions of lives at risk,” he added
Mosiria emphasised that public safety will take absolute priority over all other considerations, urging city residents to “act now”.
The Chief Officer assured the public that current enforcement efforts rolled out by Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration will continue until order is restored.
“Any structure found obstructing drainage systems or built on protected areas will be demolished without further notice or negotiation. Enforcement operations will continue and intensify until all illegal developments are cleared and order is fully restored,” he added.
@HonMosiria
Sakaja under fire
Sakaja found himself on the receiving end after Nairobi was marooned by floods following heavy rains on March 6,2026.
The floods exposed his administration’s lack of preparedness for a tragedy that would have been mitigated following accurate weather prediction provided by the weatherman.
An interview with a local TV station on Sunday, March 8, 2026 did not quell public anger as the governor appeared to struggle to explain how his administration has failed to address flooding in the city.
He cited funds as a major challenge, adding that both the county and national governments should consider acquiring boats to help evacuate residents during floods.
