Residents of Nairobi are feeling anxious about the forecasts of an approaching El Niño, a familiar sensation for those who have lived in Kenya's capital for several years. The author recalls past sudden floods when main roads turned into raging rivers in minutes, causing hours of transport disruption and leading to the loss of homes and property for families in low-lying areas.
However, during filming for CGTN in the Kenyan capital, the author noticed an unexpected fact: the city is not passively waiting for flooding. Active and urgent work is underway to prevent the consequences.
It was observed that workers in bright reflective vests were installing heavy concrete slabs, and they were also digging out large accumulations of plastic bottles, dirt, and trash that had been under drainage lines for months. In addition to cleaning, teams are laying new concrete waterways and installing large sewage pipes to divert heavy rainwater away from residential areas.
During the shoot, the author spoke with Bramwell Simiyu, Nairobi's Chief Officer for Disaster Management and Coordination. He stated directly that blocked waterways were the cause of previous floods. Simiyu explained that 'part of the reason we had floods in the past was due to cases of blockage or clogging of the drainage system, waterways, paths.' He added that a subcommittee has been established to clean drainage systems and repair identified clogged sections.
Simiyu emphasized that the city's focus is on real people, not just maps and engineering plans. 'We went around and identified all the hotspots from a humanitarian perspective,' he reported. 'We are focusing on areas where we might face significant disruption to life and livelihoods.'
Visiting the outskirts of the capital, where flooding usually occurs, the author saw local residents watching the government excavators' work with a sense of relief. He met Cecilia Mwasa, a small vendor who knows the pain of losing a home to water. Cecilia noted that floods had long caused chaos, but this time residents hope their homes will not flood because the government is repairing the drainage systems.
At the same time, it became clear that government measures are only one side of the issue. Small entrepreneurs cannot wait for promises when their daily income is at risk. Joseph Gikundi, owner of a small retail shop, instead of remaining inactive, built raised wooden shelves to lift all his goods above the floor. He explained that they had to take measures so that 'when it rains, when the water comes in... we could manage somehow.'
Standing near the camera crew by one of the recently expanded drainage outlets, the author felt genuine hope. These drainage works represent a real chance. The United Nations describes El Niño as a natural climatic pattern that occurs every two to seven years when waters in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean become abnormally warm. This warming can alter atmospheric circulation over thousands of miles, shifting rainfall and temperature patterns everywhere.
Despite the high risk to Nairobi, the author is convinced that if the cleaned waterways withstand the arrival of the storm, Nairobi will not just survive this weather phenomenon but will protect the people living in the city.
