Nairobi Mobilizes Workforce to Clear Drains Ahead of El Niño

Nairobi's county government has deployed more than 4,000 workers from its "Green Army" youth-employment program to clear drainage ditches and remove unpermitted structures ahead of a forecast record El Niño event. The program, which normally handles trash collection and city greening, is now focused on removing fabric, plastic bottles and other litter from waterways that have historically backed up during heavy rain. Bramwell Simiyu, chief officer of disaster management for Nairobi's county government, said the county is also stockpiling supplies and preparing evacuation centers.

The preparations follow a March 2025 rain event in which more than 100 people died in flash floods across the region. Simiyu said county planning accounts for a scenario in which up to 20,000 households are affected, mostly in low-income settlements. "The infrastructure we've had in place for decades was tailored for a population of not more than 2 million people," Simiyu said. "We're now talking about a daytime population of close to 7 million."

Kenya's federal government has committed $385 million to widen Nairobi's waterways, build affordable housing, and improve trash pickup and sewer systems by the end of 2027. The funding also supports Climate WorX, a national youth employment initiative working alongside the Green Army on El Niño preparations. Forecasters expect the Super El Niño to peak in November or December and continue into early 2027.

Green Army teams have been dismantling kiosks and food stalls built without county authorization. Tobias Sifuna, a supervisor for Green Army teams in the Kamukunji area, said the structures pose collapse risks during disasters. The removals have drawn objections from residents who depend on the stalls for income and daily meals. Wycliffe Ochieng, a 32-year-old fruit vendor, said workers in central Nairobi now have fewer options for affordable lunches. "Now, we have to sleep without food because we can't afford it," Ochieng said.

Ochieng lost a grocery stand in the March flooding and had to rebuild in another neighborhood. A woman he knew who ran a food stall died while trying to escape rising water. He described conditions on his street during heavy rain. "This place, it's like an ocean when it's raining," Ochieng said. "We are all scared. I fear if El Niño comes, I won't come back again."

Workers on an October clearing crew said the job offers steady income despite the heat. Alex Oyando, 30, said clogged drainage troughs prevent water from moving through the system. "The best thing to do is to be prepared," Oyando said. "When we remove the dirt, the water can flow."