Nairobi Governor Johnstone Sakaja at Ruai Infinity where widening of the river was being conducted on September 23 ,2026./ENOS TECHE

Nairobi residents can now undertake minor repairs to their homes without going through the usual county application and approval processes as the city prepares for the anticipated El Niño rains.

Governor Johnson Sakaja said the waiver will allow residents to install gutters and make other minor improvements to their houses and compounds ahead of the rains.

Speaking during an inspection of El Niño preparedness works across the city, Sakaja said he had instructed the County Secretary to issue a formal communication on the waiver.

“I have waived the application and approval processes for minor building repairs in Nairobi from now until the onset of the El Niño rains. This will give our people an opportunity to put up gutters and undertake minor repairs to their houses and compounds as they prepare for the coming rains,” Sakaja said.

Nairobi Governor Johnstone Sakaja at Ruai Infinity, where widening of the river was being conducted on September 23,2026./ENOS TECHE

The waiver comes as the county intensifies measures to reduce flooding, including deploying additional earth-moving machinery to identified hotspots and widening, deepening and desilting drainage channels.

Sakaja also warned against illegal dumping, saying waste dumped in waterways was obstructing stormwater flow and undermining flood mitigation efforts.

He said county teams had found mattresses, blankets, plastics and other waste blocking waterways.

“Illegal dumping remains a major challenge to our drainage efforts. We have found mattresses, blankets, plastics and other waste blocking waterways. Our enforcement officers are on high alert, and those found dumping illegally will face tough action,” he said.

“To private garbage collectors dumping waste in open spaces, your days are numbered. We cannot have the Green Army cleaning Nairobi every day, only for private trucks to dump waste indiscriminately. Your licences will be withdrawn permanently if you are found doing this,” Sakaja said.

The county is coordinating its preparedness efforts through a multi-agency approach involving the Nairobi County Government, Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), Kenya Red Cross and the Nairobi Rivers Commission.

Sakaja said the operation would be guided by a “One County, One Plan, One Command” approach to coordinate the agencies involved.

“As part of our El Niño preparedness, we are bringing all agencies together under a ‘One County, One Plan, One Command’ approach so that we can optimise the resources available and guarantee the safety and well-being of Nairobians,” he said.

Nairobi has also established an Emergency Operations Centre and a dedicated emergency hotline, 1508, for residents to report flooding and other emergencies.

The county has identified 27 drop-off points and shelters where residents can be evacuated if relocation becomes necessary.

A four-day multi-agency simulation exercise is planned later this month to test the city's emergency response systems and assess coordination among the agencies involved.

Sakaja said teams would continue clearing drainage systems, removing vegetation, desilting and widening waterways and removing waste from drainage corridors.

“We are intensifying the unclogging of drainage systems, deepening and widening waterways, clearing vegetation and removing waste from drainage corridors,” he said.

The county is also urging residents to take early precautions, including keeping drainage channels around their homes clear and installing gutters to improve stormwater management.