Nairobi tests flood response as agencies set up emergency command centre

NAIROBI, Kenya – As the October-December rainy season approaches, Nairobi has initiated a test of its emergency response system. National and county agencies have collaborated to establish a joint command centre at Charter Hall for Operation Okoa Maisha, a simulation aimed at evaluating how authorities would manage flooding and other emergencies.

This exercise involves the Nairobi County Government, National Disaster Operations Centre, Kenya Red Cross, Kenya Defence Forces, Kenya Coast Guard, and other relevant emergency agencies. The command centre will serve as the central coordination point, with all participating agencies expected to share field reports through a unified command post.

Governor Johnson Sakaja emphasized the importance of a single source of information during an emergency, stating, "We need one report and one communication." The county has been proactive in flood prevention measures, clearing drains, desilting waterways, and deploying equipment to high-risk areas such as those surrounding the Mathare, Ngong, and Nairobi rivers.

Evacuation centres have been identified, and emergency numbers 1508 and 1190 have been established for residents in need of assistance. Sakaja warned that occupying riparian land is non-negotiable, urging people to evacuate to safety. The simulation aims to identify weaknesses in the response system, test communication and coordination among agencies, and determine which entity assumes responsibility for specific operations.

Previous rainy seasons have seen flooding disrupt transportation and displace residents in Nairobi, prompting the county to utilize this exercise to assess the effectiveness of its current arrangements in handling a major flood emergency.