Days of heavy rain have exposed the fragile state of Nairobi and raised serious questions about the leadership of Governor Johnson Sakaja.
As water continues to swallow roads, homes, and businesses, many residents feel abandoned at the very moment they need their county government the most.
Floodwaters swept through several parts of the city after a powerful downpour on Friday, leaving at least 23 people dead according to the National Police Service. Dozens of vehicles were stranded as major roads turned into rivers, trapping motorists and cutting off access to entire neighbourhoods.
By Saturday morning, Nairobi residents woke up to submerged estates, blocked highways, and families struggling to salvage what little they could from flooded homes.
While the rains were unavoidable, the chaos that followed has sparked anger. Many residents say the disaster exposed years of poor planning, clogged drainage systems, and weak enforcement against construction on riparian land. Critics argue that the city simply was not prepared for the rains, even though weather warnings had circulated weeks earlier.
Amid the crisis, Sakaja has faced sharp criticism for what many describe as silence and absence. Nairobians expected visible leadership, emergency coordination, and reassurance from the county’s top office. Instead, frustration has grown as people watch videos online showing commuters forming human chains to cross flooded roads while rescue support appears minimal.
Activists and residents have openly questioned whether the county government has any clear flood management strategy. Some say there is no mapped flood response plan, no active drainage maintenance, and no clear emergency communication during disasters.
The contrast with leadership elsewhere has not gone unnoticed. In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani drew praise earlier this year for actively coordinating city services during a severe blizzard. He declared a state of emergency, mobilised sanitation teams, and communicated directly with residents as the storm unfolded.
Nairobians are not blaming Sakaja for the rain itself. What many are questioning is the lack of preparation and leadership when the predictable finally arrived. For a capital city that receives billions in public funding each year, residents say watching people wade through floodwaters to survive should never become normal.
