Nairobi County has asked the national government for Sh5.17 billion to finance flood prevention and emergency response actions before the El Niño rains, which the Kenya Meteorological Department predicts will start in the third week of October with a 96‑98 % probability.

Governor Johnson Sakaja told the Second National Development Implementation Committee that the county has mapped 227 flood‑prone sites across 17 sub‑counties and is accelerating drainage works to finish before the rains intensify.

The worst‑case scenario could affect about 20,000 households – roughly 100,000 residents – especially those in informal settlements along the Nairobi, Mathare and Ngong rivers.

To date, the county has cleared 80 % of riparian zones along the three rivers and completed work at 26 of the 61 identified drainage sites that need clearing or repair.

Six multi‑agency meetings have been held with national ministries, the Kenya Red Cross, security forces and road authorities to allocate responsibilities, test disaster simulations and plan resource mobilisation.

Simulation exercises, such as the one at Central Park, tested traffic diversion from Mombasa Road onto the expressway, while plans also include deploying boats to rescue residents in low‑lying areas like Ruai, Kamulu and Mathare if roads become impassable.

The county has earmarked schools, hospitals and community halls as temporary shelters, emphasizing short‑term assistance rather than long‑term IDP camps; affected households will be registered and supported before returning home.

Equipment shortages remain a challenge: only 20 % of the required excavators, backhoes, graders and drainage flushing units are available, prompting the county to hire machinery from private vendors without external funding support.

Sakaja warned that delays in national projects – with county works at 70‑80 % completion and KURA projects at 55 % – and low contractor attendance (under 25 % on recent contracts) could hinder timely preparations.

A 24‑hour joint command centre at Charter Hall now coordinates emergency operations, and residents can report incidents via the county emergency line 1508 or the Kenya Red Cross number 1199.

The Sh5.17 billion request will support works by national agencies such as KeNHA and KURA, county‑led drainage activities, and Kenya Red Cross interventions, including training of roughly 15,000 community health promoters and first responders.

Governor Sakaja appealed for accelerated national support to complete pending infrastructure projects and secure the resources needed to protect residents before the heavy rains begin.