President William Ruto has announced a fresh multi-billion shilling push to fix Nairobi’s chronic flooding, directing key ministries to urgently implement drainage improvements ahead of the next rainy season.
Ruto said the government will provide an additional Sh1 billion specifically dedicated to drainage upgrades in the capital.
Speaking at State House on Tuesday, Ruto directed implementing agencies to move with speed, warning that flooding in the city must be significantly reduced in the short term and fully resolved within the next year.
“We will provide Sh1 billion dedicated to drainage improvement. We all know what happens to Nairobi City when it rains, and my instructions to both the Ministry of Infrastructure and Roads and Housing are that we do not want a flooded city this year,” the President said.
“You have to move with speed that we do what we have to do. If there will be any flooding, it should be minimal; by next year, we should have corrected the problem that we have,” he added.
As part of the broader intervention, Ruto said the government is committing Sh9 billion to construct two parallel 27-kilometre trunk sewer networks along the Nairobi River corridor.
A further Sh6 billion has been earmarked for a new sewer treatment plant expected to process 60,000 cubic litres of water per day, capacity projected to serve the city for at least the next 40 years.
Additionally, Sh3 billion will support last-mile sewer connectivity, while Sh15 billion has been set aside for long-term sewer expansion across Nairobi.
On transport infrastructure, the President said the government is spending a total of Sh8.7 billion on roads, bridges and drainage works.
Under the programme, Sh2 billion has been allocated to complete Phase One of Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) roads within the next two months.
The government is also mobilising an additional Sh1.7 billion for a 57-kilometre road package beginning in April under Phase Two.
Phase Three, valued at Sh5 billion, will be procured within the current financial year with input from the Nairobi County Assembly.
Ruto added that road networks in every ward will be enhanced under the Sh5 billion Mobility and Safety Programme, complemented by Sh3.7 billion from the Nairobi City County Government.
The President noted that the county already has a parallel programme worth about Sh3.7 billion, but the national government will still inject an additional Sh1 billion specifically for drainage works.
“We all know when it rains, what happens to the city of Nairobi,” Ruto said, underscoring the urgency of the anti-flooding measures.
The latest pledge comes as authorities race to modernise ageing stormwater and sewer infrastructure blamed for repeated flooding in parts of the capital during heavy rains.
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