"It cannot be true!" Senator Sifuna reacts to Nairobi County's plan to purchase boats ahead of El Nino

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has reacted to reports indicating that the county will purchase motor boats and rafts in preparation for El Nino this month.

“This cannot be true,” Sifuna wrote on his X account on Thursday.

The Nairobi County El Nino Taskforce Chair, Bramwel Simiyu, believes that the county will spend at least one billion shillings to mitigate the effects of El Nino.

Nairobi residents who live near riverbanks may experience catastrophic floods, as has happened in the past.

Flooding Hotspots in Nairobi County

The County Government has also been hard at work identifying El Nino hotspots in the nation’s capital, adding that roughly 5,000 buildings built along riparian areas would experience floods.

“There is looming danger, we have sent out our surveyors who are mapping the high points. Nairobi County has 500 flooding hotspots,” he was quoted as saying.

Meteorological department now says expected rains will be just above average, not El Nino. PHOTO/COURTESY

Simiyu claimed they have located alternate housing for people who reside in riparian areas that are prone to flooding, as well as churches, community centers, and schools where they will be housed.

Kibra’s Joseph Kang’ethe Hall is one such refuge.

“We will provide food, tents, blankets, and dignity pads to all those affected,” the Nairobi County official added.

Preparedness Ahead Of El Nino

According to the county, their interventional supplies will support about 200,000 people, most of whom will be immediately impacted.

The county is also urging those who live near or on riparian lands within the city to voluntarily relocate to safer areas in light of the impending risk so that they are not impacted by El Nino as they work to reclaim riparian lands.

Bramwel Simiyu is the Chief Officer of Disaster Management in Nairobi County. PHOTO/NAIROBI COUNTY WEBSITE

“We have had a drainage problem for a very long time, we are working to sort it out,” Simiyu added.

Simiyu also revealed that the Nairobi County Government has designated Dagorreti Corner, along Jogoo Road, and the Eastlands area as the site for cheap housing for people who live on riparian lands.

This project also solves the Nairobi drainage system.

“We must also prepare for El Niño response, when it happens we must have the ambulances, fire trucks, motorboats, and inflatable rafts in the next week or so,” Simiyu added.