Nairobi County has waived application and approval requirements for minor building repairs as the city steps up preparations for anticipated El Niño rains.
Governor Johnson Sakaja said the waiver will remain in place until the onset of the rains, allowing residents to install gutters and undertake minor repairs to their homes and compounds without going through the usual approval processes.
The move is aimed at enabling households to take early measures to protect properties and improve drainage ahead of the expected heavy rains.
Sakaja said the county has also intensified drainage works in flood-prone areas, with multi-agency teams deploying additional machinery to widen and deepen drainage channels, desilt waterways and clear drainage corridors.
He said works were ongoing in Infinity area, Bunyala Road, Makadara and Mowlem as part of the county’s preparedness programme.
Illegal dumping, however, remains a major challenge to the city’s flood mitigation efforts, with the governor warning of tougher enforcement against those found disposing of waste illegally.
Private waste collectors caught dumping waste in open spaces will face the permanent withdrawal of their licences, Sakaja said.
The county is coordinating its preparedness measures under a “One County, One Plan, One Command” framework involving the national government and humanitarian agencies.
The approach is intended to improve coordination between agencies in responding to flooding and other emergencies as the rainy season approaches.
Residents have been urged to clear drainage channels around their homes, install gutters and take other precautions before the rains begin.
The county has also activated hotline 1508 for residents to report flooding and other emergencies.
Sakaja urged Nairobi residents to prepare early, saying flood preparedness would require joint efforts between the county government, other agencies and residents.
