Governor Sakaja Orders Demolition of Illegal Riverbank Structures to Tackle Nairobi Flooding
Johnson Sakaja has ordered the immediate demolition of illegal structures built along riverbanks and the relocation of occupants on riparian land in a renewed push to address chronic flooding in Nairobi. The directive follows the submission of a 48-hour action report by the Infrastructure Subcommittee under the intergovernmental cooperation framework, marking the start of what county officials describe as a large-scale enforcement and restoration exercise. Speaking in Westlands during an inspection and demolition exercise near Westgate Shopping Mall, Sakaja said the county government had moved swiftly from planning to implementation. “The directive was clear within 48 hours, we needed a concrete action plan to address flooding. I have received that report, and implementation is now underway,” he said. The ongoing operation is targeting developments that have encroached on waterways, significantly reducing their capacity to handle stormwater. Authorities cited cases where ri...