Sakaja orders demolition of structures along drainage lines

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has put traders erecting illegal structures along drainage lines on notice.

On Monday, the county boss ordered such structures be brought down.

"To the ward administrators and inspectorate team.Wale watu wamejenga kwa mitaro , wameweka kiosks kwa mitaro,wameziba na constructions zao na wameweka containers. Staki kuziona kwanzia leo haijalishi ni ya nani.... or mdosi mgani," Sakaja said.

This loosely translates to: There are those people who have constructed on top of drainages and have stationed their kiosks blocking the pipes and sewer lines. I don't want to see them starting today. I don't want to know who the owners are.

Sakaja said the illegal structures blocking the sewer lines which block the drainages that end up overflowing.

"We can't risk the lives of thousands of Nairobians at the expense of protecting the business of one person," he said.

Governor Sakaja had earlier said the county has been preparing for the past couple of months by ensuring daily garbage collection, sweeping the streets, and unclogging drainages.

“A lot of work has been done including unclogging and clearing drainages before the rains began. We are doubling our efforts by deploying more resources across all sub-counties,” he said.

City Hall has unveiled a plan in preparation for the El Nino.

Nairobi has already hired 2,500 environment officers to help spruce the city with Sakaja saying another 1,000 are set to be hired.

Another measure that City Hall is taking is setting up an emergency number for residents to report El Nino emergencies.

The number will be announced later. 

At the same time, 1,200 wheelbarrows, six fire engines, five flushing units, five ambulances, eight excavators, four exhausters and 50 trucks ( 27 new and 23 old) were flagged off for preparedness.