By Erestinah Jane | June 30, 2026
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced a KSh2 billion drainage improvement programme aimed at addressing persistent flooding in the capital, describing it as a key component of the ongoing partnership between the National Government and Nairobi City County.
Speaking on Monday during the commissioning of the Ngong Road–Naivasha Road viaduct alongside President William Ruto, Sakaja said the funding would significantly strengthen the city’s stormwater management infrastructure and reduce the impact of floods that have repeatedly disrupted businesses, transport and residential areas during heavy rains.
The KSh2 billion allocation, provided by the National Government as conditional funding to Nairobi County, will finance the construction and expansion of major stormwater drainage systems, rehabilitation of existing drainage channels, unclogging of blocked waterways, construction of retention ponds and spillways, and installation of new drainage infrastructure in flood-prone estates across the city.
Sakaja said the investment demonstrates the importance of cooperation between the two levels of government, arguing that Nairobi’s rapid urban growth and ageing infrastructure require substantial financial support beyond the county’s own revenue capacity.
The drainage project forms part of a broader KSh80 billion intergovernmental infrastructure programme targeting improvements in roads, water, sanitation, public lighting and environmental restoration across Nairobi.
Among the flagship projects is a KSh3.7 billion street lighting programme expected to install between 40,000 and 50,000 modern streetlights to enhance security and support a 24-hour economy.
The agreement also provides KSh5 billion for water treatment improvements and KSh9 billion for the construction of a 27-kilometre twin trunk sewer line to expand sanitation services in the city’s northern corridor.
In addition, the ongoing Nairobi River restoration programme is employing more than 45,000 young people in activities including river clean-up, solid waste removal, construction of pedestrian bridges and rehabilitation of riparian ecosystems.
President Ruto said the infrastructure investments are intended to improve mobility, reduce losses caused by flooding and traffic congestion, stimulate economic activity and improve the quality of life for Nairobi residents. He noted that modern drainage systems are essential to protecting public infrastructure, homes and businesses from increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
County officials said implementation of the drainage programme will prioritise areas that have historically experienced severe flooding during the long and short rainy seasons, with works expected to commence in phases across the city.
