“Where Have You Been?” Jeff Koinange Confronts Sakaja Over Silence as Floods Devastate Nairobi

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has defended his administration’s response to the recent floods that have caused deaths and destruction across the capital. His remarks came after veteran journalist Jeff Koinange confronted him over what many Nairobi residents described as his silence during the crisis.

During an interview on Citizen Sunday Live, Koinange directly asked the governor why he had not appeared publicly for nearly two days while residents were demanding answers and leadership. The question;  “Where have you been?”-  reflected the frustration many Nairobians expressed on social media after deadly floods hit several parts of the city.

Sakaja acknowledged the concerns but said the county government has been working on the ground to respond to the situation. He explained that flooding in Nairobi is largely caused by outdated infrastructure that cannot cope with the intensity of modern rainfall.

“The drainage that we have is not built for this amount of rain,” Sakaja said, adding that the city is facing what he described as a “generational infrastructure deficit.”

According to the governor, Nairobi’s drainage systems and planning structures were designed decades ago when the city had a far smaller population. Today, millions live in the capital, placing pressure on infrastructure that was built for about 500,000 people.

Sakaja said there is no quick solution to the flooding crisis and warned that fixing the city will require major investment and long-term planning. He noted that Nairobi needs at least Ksh60 billion every year to run effectively and upgrade key infrastructure.

“The capital city cannot be organised based on the share of revenue that it gets like other counties,” he said, calling for additional financial support and stronger cooperation with the national government.

The governor also defended the county’s ongoing efforts to unclog drainage systems. He said 4,500 Green Army workers have been deployed across the city to clean blocked drains and improve water flow.

However, Sakaja blamed widespread littering and illegal dumping for worsening the flooding problem.

“Who dumps in those drains? Who is littering in those drains? We have provided bins,” he said.

He urged Nairobi residents to take responsibility for keeping the city clean, warning that careless waste disposal blocks drainage systems and increases flood risks.

Sakaja also criticised politicians who oppose county enforcement measures, including evictions from riparian land and flood-prone areas.

Despite growing criticism, the governor insisted his administration will continue implementing necessary measures to protect the city.

“I will just close my ears and do what must be done for this city,” he said.