Nairobians in 6 estates adviced as Nairobi Dam risks overflow
By David Nthua, March 23, 2026Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has cautioned Nairobians living in Nairobi’s six risky areas not to allow misleading reports that they should not be worried about floods, enter their minds.
Speaking amid rising alarm on Sunday, March 23, 2026, Sakaja acknowledged the seriousness of the situation.
He also revealed that authorities are closely monitoring the Nairobi Dam, which dates back to 1953.
He warned that failure or overflow could have devastating consequences for residents living downstream.
Warning over Nairobi Dam
“We must make tough decisions and those decisions are for us. My brothers from Kibra, you know what happens along Ngong River. Right now, I am worried; I received a notice about Nairobi Dam. It started in 1953 and if it was to burst today, we would lose so many lives…there are people who must move,” Sakaja stated.
The governor stressed that the situation should not be taken lightly, noting that difficult but necessary decisions must be made to protect lives.
He also highlighted ongoing efforts by the county to address long standing environmental challenges linked to waterways and informal settlements.
“If you look at parts of the programmes that we are doing, we are doing the Nairobi Regeneration Program which opens up the river well. We are telling people to leave riparian land. A project of Ksh50B. We recently opened Kamukunji Park and the things we are doing we must do as a generation,” he said.
High risk zones
The warning comes as the Water Resources Authority raises concern over a possible overflow, urging residents in vulnerable zones to move to safer grounds.
Hundreds of people living or working downstream of the dam are now facing a potential disaster if urgent action is not taken.
Areas identified as at risk include Kibera, parts of Highrise, Lang’ata, South C, Mbagathi Way, and Madaraka.
These locations lie along the flow path of water from Nairobi Dam and could be severely affected in the event of a breach or overflow.
Authorities have advised residents in these areas to remain alert and cooperate with any evacuation or safety directives issued.
While there is no confirmed collapse, experts warn that the age of the dam and increasing environmental pressure raise the level of concern.
For now, officials continue to monitor the situation closely, urging the public to prioritize safety and avoid ignoring official warnings.