Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson inspected ongoing spillway and embankment strengthening works at Nairobi Dam in Lang’ata, noting that the interventions are intended to reduce flooding risk for residents and businesses in vulnerable downstream neighbourhoods.

The dam overflowed during the March 2026 rains, prompting concerns for communities along Lang’ata and Mombasa roads, including high‑rise apartments in Madaraka, South C and South B.

Teams have created a spillway channel that diverts excess water toward the Ngong River, easing pressure on the dam and helping to minimise the impact of heavy rainfall on downstream properties.

The works also involve dredging and deepening sections of the watercourse, reclaiming riparian zones and removing walls in parts of South C to improve water flow through designated channels.

Governor Sakaja described the current works as an initial intervention, with a comprehensive dam rehabilitation programme slated for after the anticipated El Niño rains.

The planned rehabilitation will address longstanding concerns about the dam’s condition, water‑management capacity and environmental degradation, aiming for a more robust flood‑attenuation system.

Built in 1955 as part of the Ngong River flood‑attenuation network, Nairobi Dam’s capacity has been compromised over time by pollution, sediment build‑up and inadequate maintenance.

The spillway project forms part of Nairobi County’s broader El Niño preparedness programme, which includes drainage clearance, river desilting and removal of waste obstructing storm‑water channels across the city.

County officials have urged residents and businesses to refrain from dumping waste in drainage channels and to keep their surroundings clean to support the effectiveness of the flood‑mitigation measures.