Nairobi residents have been warned against dumping garbage on roads, open spaces and drainage reserves amidst concerns regarding heavy rainfall in the city from Monday, August 18. 

Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria expressed concern over Nairobi’s overstretched drainage systems and called on residents to take an active role in helping prevent flooding.

He noted that rapid urbanisation and expansion have drastically reduced the city’s natural ground cover. With most areas now covered in concrete and tarmac, rainwater no longer seeps into the soil but instead flows straight into drainage channels, overwhelming the city’s ageing infrastructure.

“Nairobi is currently experiencing heavy rains. With the city’s growing population and increased construction, much of the ground is now covered by concrete, reducing natural soil absorption,” Mosiria warned.

“As rainwater seeks soil to penetrate, it ends up flowing directly into drainage channels, overwhelming our drainage system, which was not designed to handle such volumes.”

In response to this, he announced that Nairobi County’s Environment Support Staff and Emergency Response Teams have been activated to unblock and clear drainage systems across the city.

Mosiria stressed that while the county government is working to address Nairobi’s drainage challenges, the success of these measures heavily relies on the cooperation of city residents.

He pointed out that improper waste disposal—especially dumping garbage on roads, open spaces, and drainage reserves—remains a leading cause of flooding across the city.

Residents living on riparian land have also been advised to move at least 30 metres back from riverbanks to reduce the risk of being swept away by rising waters as the government implements long-term drainage upgrades.

“I urge all residents to help by avoiding the dumping of garbage on road reserves and open spaces, as this blocks drainage channels. Supporting efforts to keep drainage channels clear, since past floods have often been worsened by blocked drains,” he added.

“The government is also working on long-term improvements to Nairobi’s drainage infrastructure. In the meantime, residents living on riparian land near rivers are advised to move back at least 30 meters on both sides to prevent the risk of being swept away by rising waters.”

Meanwhile, the Kenya Meteorological Department, in its latest forecast issued on Friday, August 15, indicated that several parts of the country, including the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, and the Western Highlands, are expected to receive more than 20mm of rainfall accompanied by strong winds.

The department warned that the heavy downpour would persist until Tuesday before gradually easing from Wednesday.

Nairobi was listed among the counties set to experience moderate to heavy rainfall, alongside Narok, Baringo, Nakuru, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nyandarua, Murang’a, and Kiambu.