Nairobi floods: Sifuna takes the bull by its horns, criticises Sakaja administration

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Heavy rains on Friday, March 6, 2026, caused severe flooding across Nairobi, leaving roads impassable, homes submerged, and several people dead.

The unprecedented downpour sparked public outrage and calls for accountability from city leadership.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, criticized the response of the city government, calling the situation “an indictment of leadership failures”, while Governor Johnson Sakaja through his office assured residents that emergency interventions and disaster response measures were fully mobilised.

Sifuna’s statement

Senator Sifuna wrote on social media: "As part of the leadership in Nairobi, you will hear no excuses from me. Yesterday’s flood situation was an indictment. We know it’s a sum total of many failures, but mostly failures of leadership. We must do better because you don’t deserve this. For all those who slept on the roads, those counting losses from flood damage, poleni sana. Sadly, the County disaster team has confirmed multiple lives were lost. My office has sent out teams to assess the situation and see how we can help. Meanwhile, it is obvious that we need a comprehensive review of how the city drains because the piecemeal interventions are not working. I extend my deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones."

Mr Sifuna emphasized that while floods are partly a natural disaster, the extent of damage is tied to policy failures, poor urban planning, and inadequate drainage infrastructure.

He urged the national government and Nairobi City County to declare a national disaster and implement emergency and long-term interventions.

Governor Sakaja’s response

Through his office, Governor Sakaja reassured the public that:

The Multi-Agency Disaster and Flood Mitigation Committee has been activated.

Emergency personnel, including Fire and Disaster Management units, Police, and Kenya Red Cross, are actively rescuing stranded residents.

The “Green Army” and technical teams are de-silting drains and clearing blocked waterways across all 17 sub-counties.

Temporary evacuation centers with essential supplies have been set up for residents in low-lying areas at risk.

The governor urged residents to use the emergency hotlines: 020 2222181 / 020 2223182 / 020 2222183 / 020 2344599 for immediate assistance.

Meteorological update

The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) issued Heavy Rainfall Advisory No. 02/2026, warning that moderate to heavy rainfall may continue until March 9, 2026, with isolated storms reaching 40–100mm in some areas.

Significant rainfall in the last 24 hours includes:

• Wilson Airport: 160 mm
• Moi Airbase: 145.4 mm
• Dagoretti: 112.2 mm
• Kabete: 117.4 mm

KMD noted that continuous rainfall since mid-February has saturated soils, heightening flood risks across Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos, Rift Valley Highlands, Western Kenya, and the Coastal region.

Immediate and long-term interventions

Short-term measures:

• Open clogged waterways to enhance storm water flow.
• Remove uncollected solid waste citywide.

Limit movement in high-risk areas temporarily; children advised to stay home.
Long-term recommendations:

• Build larger storm water drainages and separate sewerage paths.
• Remove illegal structures on floodplains and riverbanks.
• Construct strategic dams, restore Nairobi River, and plant trees on its banks.
• Ensure permeable pavements and enforce building permit guidelines.
• Audit city roads with KENHA and KURA to correct design errors that worsen flooding.

Babu Owino weighs in

MP Babu Owino (Embakasi East) said: "No words can describe the shock and trauma from yesterday’s (referring to Friday night) unprecedented downpour. Businesses, homes, and lives were destroyed. I extend heartfelt condolences to those who lost loved ones. We demand urgent interventions, not tokenism, to help citizens recover. Disaster response is a matter of life and death, and the government must act immediately."