Public Service CS Ruku wants Nairobi flooding menace fixed

The Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Geoffrey Ruku when he toured survivors of floods in drive-in area in Utalii Ward, Ruaraka constituency on April 23, 2025. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]

The Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes, Geoffrey Ruku, has directed the formation of a multi-agency team to fix drainage systems following flooding within the capital.

The team, which will comprise the Nairobi County government, Nairobi Sewerage Company, and Nairobi River Commission, will be headed by the Principal Secretary, Ishmael Maalim.

The directive includes unclogging of drainage systems, sewage lines, and rivers that are blocked due to poor waste management.

The CS said the perennial drainage problem has left thousands of city residents counting losses whenever there is heavy downpour, saying that he will not allow it to continue.

The Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Geoffrey Ruku when he toured survivors of floods in drive-in area in Utalii Ward, Ruaraka constituency on April 23, 2025. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]

“The government will not allow  Kenyans to continue losing their lives and livelihoods through some people’s negligence,” said Ruku.

He now wants the county to involve the National Youth Service engineer, Kenya Roads Authority, and Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) in a multi-agency team to do a geo-mapping to ensure the drainage system flows seamlessly.

Speaking at Harambee House on Wednesday, April 23, the CS pointed out that even with last year’s flooding that left hundreds of people dead  and scores homeless, some officers have not learned lessons for disaster preparedness.

The Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Geoffrey Ruku when he toured survivors of floods in drive-in area in Utalii Ward, Ruaraka constituency on April 23, 2025. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]

“I am here after learning that we have some people who lost their lives following the flooding; these are things we can avoid. We want to put measures in place so that we fix the problem,” he stated.