The Environment, Forestry and Mining Committee of the National Assembly, on Friday, March 13, 2026, grilled the Director-General of the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), Mamo Mamo, over the recent flooding and drainage blockages in Nairobi following heavy rainfall.

The committee, led by Vincent Musyoka, Chairperson, asked Mamo why Nairobi continues to struggle with a dysfunctional sewerage system under NEMA’s watch. NEMA is mandated to enforce environmental laws and protect residents from environmental risks. Lawmakers also questioned the authority on efforts to unblock affected areas.

“This appears a NEMA issue, however, planning and the behaviour of the people of Nairobi come in. NEMA can’t run away, you are part of the problem because at some point you approve illegal buildings, and you don’t follow up on enforcement,” Musyoka said, according to a statement shared by Parliament Kenya on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

In response, Mamo outlined several challenges contributing to the problem. He pointed to Nairobi’s ageing drainage system, constructed in the 1970s. Informal settlements without sewer lines were also a major concern, as waste from these areas ends up in the Nairobi River. He further blamed the city’s dumping sites, which worsen the situation along the river.

“Hon. Members, these are some of the problems we have been able to point out, and we cannot forget the encroachment on the riparian land. However, the Nairobi River Commission is working with NEMA to map out these areas and consequently come up with a plan to move them away,” Mamo said.

Lawmakers demand NEMA action

Several lawmakers pressed NEMA to act decisively to restore Nairobi’s habitability. Joseph Emathe of Turkana Central, Joseph Wainaina, nominated MP, and Charity Kathambi of Njoro urged the authority to strengthen its enforcement.

“We see urbanisation coming with a number of construction sites coming up very fast in Nairobi. We want to see those who break the law dealt with. All buildings erected on riparian land must be brought down,” Emathe stated.

Wainaina recalled efforts by the late John Michuki to clean the Nairobi River.

“I remember how the water flowing in Nairobi River looked clean at the time the late Hon. Michuki was in charge. Today everything looks dirty. People are sleeping around the river and that’s a recipe for all environmental problems around this river. We want to see NEMA engaging all stakeholders, including the County Government of Nairobi and the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company, to clean up the mess,” he said.

Staffing issue affecting NEMA

The Principal Secretary in the State Department for Environment and Climate Change, Festus Ng’eno, who also attended the meeting, said staffing shortages limit NEMA’s capacity to address environmental challenges. He promised to bring all stakeholders together to help clean up Nairobi.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja defended his administration’s response to the recent floods during a heated TV call on March 12, 2026. He said the city’s flooding problems are deeply rooted in structural issues dating back over a century, including the original swampy terrain and outdated drainage systems.

“The city was built on a swamp; a 100-year problem cannot be solved in three years,” Sakaja said.

He added that Nairobi faces unique pressures as the capital and highlighted cooperation with the national government, while praising joint operations by 4,500 Green Army personnel and county fire teams that helped save lives during the floods.

The death toll from devastating floods sweeping across Kenya has risen to 62, with thousands more displaced, as heavy rainfall continues to batter parts of the country during the early long rains season.

The National Disaster Management Unit, under the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, confirmed the fatalities on March 14, 2026.