The Nairobi County Government has announced a one-month waiver on levies and approvals required for property repair works following the recent heavy rains and flooding in the capital.
In a public notice issued on Wednesday, March 11, Acting County Secretary Godfrey Akumali said the move was aimed at enabling residents and businesses to quickly restore properties damaged by the floods.
Akumali explained that the waiver applies to levies and approvals that are normally required before residents undertake repair and maintenance works on their properties.
According to the county government, the directive is intended to speed up the restoration of homes, businesses and public facilities affected by the flooding, while also safeguarding the health and safety of residents by allowing urgent structural interventions.
The notice further stated that the measure is part of broader efforts to support community recovery during the ongoing environmental challenges caused by the heavy rains.
“Residents are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this waiver to carry out necessary works within the stipulated timeframe,” the statement read in part.
However, the county government noted that it would continue to provide technical guidance and oversight to ensure that repair works comply with safety standards.
The waiver will remain in effect for 30 days from March 11, after which the normal regulatory requirements for property repair and maintenance approvals will resume.
The statement comes after 43 lives were lost following the heavy rainfall that was experienced on Friday night, March 6.Â
The heavy rains overwhelmed drainage systems in several neighbourhoods including South C, South B and Nairobi West, leaving roads submerged and disrupting transport.
Motorists along Uhuru Highway were among the hardest hit as floodwaters engulfed sections of the busy roadway, leaving some vehicles nearly submerged.
Residents in some estates also reported water entering homes after drainage systems failed to cope with the sudden surge of rainwater.
In response, Governor Johnson Sakaja stated that an emergency response team was activated across the county.
He added that a multi-agency team comprising the National Police Service and the Kenya Red Cross Society coordinated field operations to enhance response efforts in Nairobi.
During a recent interview on Citizen TV, Sakaja noted that the city’s drainage problem couldn’t be solved by a quick fix, opining that he has the best remedy to develop Nairobi to international standards with the appropriate financing.
“I know where I have gotten this city from, I know what the plan is, and I have figured out how to plug the deficit of financing, and you will see the results. I want to see my city change. I have the best intentions for this city; this is where I was born,” he stated on March 8, 2026.
