Fixing Nairobi’s flooding problems ought to be part of housing plan

Canals, storm drains, levees and other infrastructure arose with the sole purpose of taming water. Photo: Courtesy

Every time it rains, Nairobi floods. Nairobians then complain about the lack of proper storm drains and the fact that many buildings have been put up on riparian reserves.

And like clockwork, these complaints are often met by official statements about trash filling the few drains that we have. The city then collectively forgets the problem, that is, until the next rains.