Nairobi Unveils Ksh38.1B Water Plan As Floods Expose Infrastructure Gaps

Heavy rains and devastating floods in Nairobi have once again exposed the city’s fragile infrastructure, pushing authorities to take decisive action. In response to the crisis, the county government has unveiled an ambitious Ksh38.1 billion water and sanitation improvement plan aimed at strengthening the capital’s aging water systems and preventing future disasters. The initiative comes after severe flooding swept through several parts of the city, damaging infrastructure, disrupting transport, and highlighting the urgent need for better urban planning.

During the heavy rains in early March, flash floods submerged major roads and stranded motorists across Nairobi. Vehicles were swept away by fast-moving water while residents struggled to move through flooded neighborhoods. The disaster also damaged water pipelines and disrupted supply in several estates including Buruburu, Dandora, and Eastleigh. In some areas, residents were forced to wade through deep water to reach safety as drainage systems failed to handle the massive volume of stormwater.

The floods were part of a wider national disaster that affected multiple counties across Kenya. Reports indicated that dozens of people lost their lives, mainly due to drowning and electrocution, while thousands of households were displaced. The tragedy intensified public debate about Nairobi’s urban infrastructure and the growing risks caused by rapid population growth and poor drainage systems.

To address these challenges, Nairobi County announced the Ksh38.1 billion investment under the broader “Nairobi Rising” urban renewal program. The plan focuses on expanding water pipelines, upgrading distribution networks, and connecting more households to reliable water supply. One of the key projects includes improving the Ngethu–Gigiri transmission pipeline, which supplies treated water to several parts of the city. Authorities also plan to extend “last-mile” water connections to neighborhoods that currently rely on water vendors due to limited access to piped water.

Sanitation improvement is another major component of the program. The county intends to construct a 27-kilometre trunk sewer line along the Nairobi River corridor, allowing wastewater to be collected and transported to treatment facilities instead of polluting rivers. Additionally, a new wastewater treatment plant will be built in Kariobangi to improve sanitation services in densely populated neighborhoods.

Read Also: Kenya Met Warns Kenyans To Prepare For More Floods As Rain Intensity Increases

By Alain Mugisho Nabalinda