Nairobi county races to clear drains ahead of anticipated El Niño rains
The weekly operation, running from August 31 to September 6, is targeting some of the city’s busiest and most congested areas, including Gikomba, Muthurwa, Wakulima, Korogocho, Kangemi and Toi markets.
Nairobi, Kenya’s largest city, is scrambling to clear waste from its drainage system and waterways before the anticipated El Niño rains arrive. The county government is currently collecting about 3,000 tonnes of garbage daily, a significant increase from its previous rate of roughly 1,000 tonnes. This massive effort is aimed at preventing floods in vulnerable neighborhoods as the city generates and disposes of waste faster than its waste management system can handle.
In areas like Embakasi South, Kware Bridge, and English Press in Mukuru Kwa Reuben, over 4,500, 1,538, and 2,970 loads of waste have been cleared respectively since April. The problem isn't limited to the eastern suburbs; the Nairobi River and other parts of the city have also seen waste removal efforts. Despite these cleanup efforts, the persistent issue of waste disposal continues to pose a significant threat, potentially turning Nairobi's rains into a flood emergency.
The county government is deploying teams across all 17 sub-counties to remove waste, desilt drains, and clear vegetation. They have also begun recruiting 4,000 Green Army workers and are proposing facilities for material recovery and waste transfer to strengthen their response.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
