City Hall to consider contracting Water agency in bid to curb foods and drainage management

City Hall to consider contracting Water agency in bid to curb foods and drainage management

The Nairobi City County Government is now considering working closely with the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority (NWHSA) to tighten its efforts in flood control and drainage management.

Officers from the water authority together with senior water officials from the county agreed on the need to work together and particularly develop solutions to the perennial flooding that often claims lives and destroys property in the capital city.

The node for a possible working formular was reached when the two groups appeared before the Sectoral Committee on Water and Sanitation chaired by Highrise Member of County Assembly Kennedy Oyugi.

Mr. George Nyabicha Manager, Business Development & Resource Mobilization at the Authority told the committee that the county can capitalise on the expertise and available machinery they have to come up with serious interventions to flooding and poor drainage.

“ Our collaboration with state departments and even county governments has always been above board because of the unique services we offer,” he said.

City Hall Chief Officer for Water and Sanitation Oscar Omoke said that the county will be free to collaborate with any agency or authority that can offer solutions to problems and challenges brought forth by heavy rainfall.

In 2024,floods across the country killed at least 169 people between March and April with Nairobi recording 16 deaths and 13,000 displacements.

The two entities have agreed that it is possible to keep abreast of the city’s rapid urbanisation needs.

Last month, officials from the authority had agreed on modalities under which the authority can collaborate with the county to improve water infrastructure.

Chief Executive Officer Julius Mugun had shared various areas to explore, among them flood control and drainage management, rainwater harvesting, drilling of boreholes and rehabilitation of existing ones.

The CEO explained that county’s have the constitutional mandate to offer water services which means national government agencies must collaborate with devolved units.

It is also seeking collaboration on projects to advance access to reliable water sources through borehole initiatives.

Committee Chairman Kennedy Oyugi welcomed the initiative and promised to arrange for more meetings that will involve officials from the county, Nairobi and Athi Water agencies respectively.