Nairobi’s Green Army moves to thwart flooding before El Niño rains

Clearing drains before the rains

Alex Oyando, a Green Army worker, said clearing blocked drainage helps water flow and reduces flood risk. Nairobi is vulnerable to flash floods even without El Niño, and more than 100 people died in rain-driven floods there last March.

The county government has mobilized more than 4,000 Green Army members for preparations. Their usual work includes rubbish collection and city greening; now they are also clearing drains and dismantling structures considered at risk of collapse.

Infrastructure and emergency planning

Low-income neighborhoods are among the areas most affected by flooding. Aging drainage systems and blocked waterways can cause stormwater to accumulate, and Oyando said floodwater sometimes reaches his home.

Nairobi’s disaster management chief, Bramwell Simiyu, said existing infrastructure was built for a much smaller population. The city’s daytime population is now close to 7 million, he said.

Kenya’s federal government has a $385 million plan to widen waterways, build affordable housing, and improve waste collection and sewer systems by the end of 2027. The effort also backs the Climate WorX youth employment program, which is working with the Green Army; Nairobi is preparing supplies and evacuation centers for a worst-case scenario affecting about 20,000 households.

Stall removals draw concern

Some of the structures being removed are food stalls built without county permits. Green Army supervisor Tobias Sifuna said their removal is necessary, but nearby residents depend on the stalls for income and everyday shopping.

Fruit vendor Wycliffe Ochieng said workers in central Nairobi have lost access to affordable hot lunches. He said some people now go without food because they cannot afford alternatives.

Ochieng also said floodwater prevented him from reaching home during the previous rainy season, forcing him to sleep outdoors. The preparations may reduce flood dangers, while the removal of stalls is already affecting people in the neighborhoods most exposed to them.