Calls grow for audit of Nairobi drainage system after deadly floods

NLP Party leader Dr. Augustus Muli has urged authorities to commission an independent public audit of the city’s drainage infrastructure, saying the recurring floods point to deeper structural and planning failures.

According to Muli, blocked drainage channels, poor urban planning and encroachment on waterways have continued to worsen flooding in the city despite repeated government pledges to address the problem.

“Every heavy rainfall exposes the same weaknesses in the system,” he said, adding that both the National Government and the Nairobi County Government should account for the state of the city’s drainage and flood preparedness.

The calls come in the wake of heavy rains that triggered severe flooding across several parts of Nairobi, leaving homes submerged, vehicles stranded and families displaced.

Urban planners and disaster response agencies have long warned that rapid urban expansion, construction on riparian land and poor waste management have placed significant strain on Nairobi’s drainage network.

Muli also urged the government to provide emergency assistance to affected families, including temporary shelter, food and medical support, while prioritizing long-term solutions such as modern drainage infrastructure and stricter enforcement of laws protecting river corridors.

The latest flooding has revived debate about Nairobi’s urban planning and disaster preparedness, particularly after last year’s nationwide floods that killed hundreds and displaced thousands of people across the country.