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Although most parts of Nakuru county are hilly, this has not spared its towns and villages from the risks of flooding.

With the anticipated El Nino rains, some of the areas are still exposed to high risks of flooding, leaving the residents uneasy.

Among the high-risk areas include the lower parts of Nakuru West and Nakuru East, which host populous estates inhabited by thousands of low-income earners.

Other areas profiled as high risk by the county government include Eburru, Oljorai, Maela and Kuesoi, which are prone to flush floods from higher grounds.

Mitigate flooding risk

Nakuru City drainage system is among the county government’s focal point in taking measures to mitigate flooding risk under the Kenya Urban Support Program (KUSP) and Kenya Informal Settlement Support Programme (KISSIP).

Despite the efforts, many areas remain uncovered leaving the existing system established during the colonial times under pressure and ineffective.

In a bid to address the challenge ahead of the rains, the county government has embarked on constructing new drainage systems and expanding the existing ones.

“Following the warning issued by the meteorological department, we are undertaking these measures to protect our population,” said County Secretary Dr Samuel Mwaura.

Drainage systems

At Mbugua Mbugua area in Rhonda where several houses were marooned three years ago, the county government is for the first time constructing underground drainage systems. “This is one of the hot spots where people have been suffering every year. When flooding happens, it also becomes a health hazard, which we are seeking to end,” said Dr Mwaura.

In some of the estates, the drainage systems have been encroached with some of the old natural waterways occupied by human settlements.

In Milimani for example, the county government had to forcefully reopen several culverts blocked using concrete to stop water from flowing into a private residence.