Nairobi County government has introduced an extensive preparedness strategy in anticipation of the upcoming El Nino rains, as forecasted by the Kenya Meteorological Department.
These heavy rains are expected to persist from September 2023 through January 2024, prompting proactive measures to safeguard city residents during the downpour.
A critical component of the plan focuses on the thorough cleaning and maintenance of drainage systems to mitigate the risk of flooding.
Nairobi County has initiated the recruitment of 3500 environmental officers dedicated to clearing and unclogging these crucial channels. The goal is to bolster the city’s readiness for the impending El Nino rains.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja emphasized the paramount importance of this measure during the plan’s unveiling on Monday.
Furthermore, the county government has taken proactive steps to identify and assess potentially unsafe buildings.
Residents residing in such structures will be promptly evacuated before the onset of flooding, ensuring their safety.
Governor Sakaja reaffirmed the commitment to act decisively in addressing buildings that pose flooding threats, emphasizing the need for impartial and swift action.
As an additional precautionary measure, an emergency contact number will be established for residents to report El Nino-related emergencies. The details of this dedicated hotline will be made available in due course.
Governor Sakaja also disclosed the acquisition of 27 new specialized vehicles, including work trucks, fire trucks, flushing units, ambulances, excavators, and exhausters.
These vehicles are poised to enhance the county’s emergency response capabilities significantly.
Furthermore, the County government has set an ambitious target of reducing ambulance response times to a remarkable 9 minutes, ensuring swift medical assistance during adverse weather conditions.
