The Nairobi City County Government has warned property owners who have constructed buildings on drainage systems, saying a demolition exercise is imminent to address persistent flooding in the capital.
County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service, Geofrey Mosiria, said the government has launched a repossession drive targeting all encroached waterways and sewer lines, blaming illegal developments for worsening floods during the ongoing rains.
“The county government has embarked on repossession of all the drainage system. If you have grabbed the waterways we will repossess. All illegal structures will be brought down to allow water to flow,” Mosiria said.
Nairobi has in recent weeks experienced heavy rains that have left several estates flooded, disrupting transport, damaging property and exposing the city’s fragile drainage infrastructure. Urban planners have long warned that unchecked construction on riparian land and drainage corridors has significantly reduced the city’s ability to manage storm water.
It is unfortunate that some drivers operating within the CBD have resorted to urinating in bottles and indiscriminately dumping them across the city. This disgraceful and unhygienic behavior is unacceptable and has made the work of our cleaning staff extremely difficult.
We… pic.twitter.com/hPpclcDM4Z
— Geoffrey Mosiria (@HonMosiria) March 19, 2026
Mosiria said the current situation is largely man-made, attributing it to years of illegal encroachment and poor waste management practices.
“The recent flooding in the city has been as a result of clogging brought by obstruction by the illegal structures constructed on top of the drainage system,” he stated.
The planned demolitions are expected to cut across both high-end and informal settlements, with the county insisting no area will be spared in the crackdown.
“People have been complaining that we go for small fish but this round we will close our eyes on everyone. This will include Parklands, those on the riparian land will go down. I am assuring Nairobians that we are going to restore order, we have to restore the dignity of the city,” Mosiria said.
He added that the operation will involve a multi-agency approach bringing together county and national government officials, underscoring the urgency of restoring proper drainage systems as rains continue.
“We are not going to compromise anything. This is a multi-agency approach both the county and national government. I appeal to residents to cooperate with our officers, as rains continue to pound the city be ready to call on the emergency disaster response team on 1508,” he said.
Beyond illegal construction, the county has also turned its focus to human behaviour contributing to blocked drainage. Mosiria singled out public service vehicle operators, accusing some of engaging in unhygienic practices that further clog the city’s drainage systems, and promising further action.
The recent floods claimed 71 lives nationwide, with Nairobi recording the highest toll at 36 fatalities.
The heavy rains, which delivered up to 112mm of rainfall in a single 24-hour period, have displaced approximately 2,622 households and affected over 50,000 people, according to government data.
Infrastructure damage has been severe, with at least 71 vehicles were swept away in the capital alone.
