Nairobi Governor Johson Sakaja has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the Nairobi River regeneration programme, vowing to press on with river clean-up and riparian land reclamation efforts despite mounting resistance.
Speaking in Gikomba, the governor said the county is determined to tackle what he described as a long-standing urban planning challenge.
“Even if it is a problem of 130 years, we shall address it. We must make tough decisions,” Sakaja said.
He urged residents living along riverbanks to relocate voluntarily to pave the way for environmental restoration and infrastructure development. The county government, he noted, plans to establish a modern market in Gikomba to improve livelihoods while mitigating flood risks.
“We have lost so many people and property, but we shall never go there again. We are saving a generation,” he added.
The governor also raised alarm over the state of Nairobi Dam, warning of a potential disaster after receiving reports from the Water Resources Authority that the dam is filled to capacity.
“This is not a time for politics. Those inciting people must understand that saving lives comes first,” he said, urging nearby residents to evacuate immediately.
Sakaja further revealed that the county is investing in long-term drainage and sewerage upgrades designed to serve the city for the next 50 years. However, he maintained that immediate measures- including forced relocations, if necessary- will be implemented to safeguard lives.
“For those living along riverways, please move, if need be, they will be moved,” he warned.
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Defending ongoing evictions and river clearance operations, Sakaja cited historical warnings about Nairobi’s vulnerability to flooding. Speaking during a church service at PEFA in Gikomba, he said leadership requires confronting both present challenges and longstanding structural risks.
He traced the city’s flood problems back to the early 1900s, referencing a 1906 letter by James Sandler to Winston Churchill questioning Nairobi’s suitability as a capital due to its swampy terrain.
He also pointed to subsequent warnings by Charles Eliot and Dr. Macdonald, as well as the 1928 Nairobi master plan, which identified key rivers- including Mathare, Ngong, and Nairobi- and recommended buffer zones that were only partially implemented.
According to the governor, historical inequalities in land use planning left low-income communities disproportionately exposed to flood risks.
“The less privileged were left in low-lying areas while the elite occupied higher grounds like Karen, Muthaiga, and Lavington,” he said.
He added that the current administration is committed to addressing what he described as a “130-year problem” through both immediate interventions and long-term urban planning reforms.
