journalist reporter – Kenya
The air in Nakuru hangs heavy with the dampness of days of unyielding rain. The once-vibrant streets, usually teeming with life and commerce, now resemble murky canals, reflecting a city struggling to breathe under the weight of unprecedented flooding. The relentless downpour, a stark reminder of the changing climate’s unpredictable fury, has not only disrupted the rhythm of daily life but has also laid bare a critical and long-festering wound: Nakuru’s woefully inadequate drainage infrastructure. What began as a seasonal inconvenience has morphed into a full-blown crisis, a testament to the devastating consequences of years of infrastructural neglect in the face of escalating environmental challenges.
Along the bustling Kenyatta Avenue, the heartline of Nakuru’s commercial activity, a sense of eerie stillness prevails. Shops, usually vibrant with displays of goods and the chatter of customers, stand like silent sentinels, their entrances barricaded by sandbags or simply submerged beneath the murky water. Norma’s textile emporium, a fixture in the city for over two decades, remains locked shut.
The handwritten sign on the door, stark against the water stains, reads a familiar and disheartening message: “Closed Due to Floods.” Inside, the scene is one of quiet devastation – rolls of fabric soaked beyond salvation, display shelves overturned, and a thick layer of silt clinging to every surface.
“This is becoming our new normal,” Norma recounts, her voice weary with a blend of anger and resignation. “Every significant downpour, and we’re back to square one. We lose weeks of business, our merchandise is destroyed, and the recovery process is slow and arduous.
It feels like we’re constantly bailing water, both literally and figuratively, just to stay afloat.” Her experience is not an isolated incident; it’s a shared reality for countless business owners across Nakuru, from the owners of small roadside kiosks to the managers of larger industrial enterprises, all bearing the brunt of a watery siege that seems to worsen with each passing rainy season.
The impact on Nakuru’s residents is equally profound, transforming everyday routines into arduous and often dangerous journeys. Commuting, once a predictable part of the day, has become a gamble. Matatus, the lifeblood of the city’s public transport, navigate flooded sections with agonizing slowness, their engines sputtering precariously as they push through the murky depths.
Passengers, their faces etched with anxiety, cling to whatever handholds they can find, bracing themselves against the unpredictable surges of water. For pedestrians, the situation is even more perilous. Sidewalks have vanished beneath the floodwaters, forcing them to wade through potentially contaminated streams, risking not only physical injury but also the threat of waterborne diseases.
“Getting to work has become a nightmare,” laments John, a middle-aged accountant who lives on the outskirts of the city and works downtown. “What used to be a thirty-minute commute now takes upwards of two hours. The traffic is chaotic, and there are stretches where the water is knee-deep. You worry about your safety, about your vehicle, about just being able to carry on with your life.” His frustration is palpable, a sentiment echoed by countless other Nakuru residents whose daily lives have been thrown into disarray by the relentless flooding.
Experts in urban planning and civil engineering point to the city’s aging and woefully inadequate drainage system as the primary catalyst for this recurring crisis. Built decades ago to serve a much smaller population and a less volatile climate, the infrastructure has simply failed to keep pace with Nakuru’s rapid urbanization and the increasing intensity of rainfall events. Natural drainage channels have been built over, and the existing network, plagued by neglect, blockages from accumulated debris, and a lack of consistent maintenance, is woefully unprepared to handle the sheer volume of water that now regularly inundates the city.
“The fundamental issue is a lack of foresight and investment,” explains Engineer David Maina, his voice tinged with professional concern. “Nakuru has grown exponentially over the past few decades, but the essential infrastructure, particularly the drainage system, has not been upgraded accordingly. We’re essentially trying to pour a modern city’s rainwater into an antique system. Add to that the undeniable effects of climate change, which are bringing more intense and unpredictable rainfall patterns, and you have a recipe for disaster.”
The economic repercussions of these recurring floods extend far beyond the immediate losses faced by businesses. Disrupted supply chains hinder the flow of essential goods and services, leading to price hikes and shortages. The closure of markets and shops translates to a significant loss of income for countless families who rely on daily trade for their livelihoods. Economists estimate that the cumulative impact of these floods costs Nakuru millions of shillings annually, a substantial drain on the city’s economic potential and a significant impediment to sustainable development.
“The uncertainty is crippling,” states Samuel Kamau, his frustration evident. “Businesses are reluctant to invest and expand when they know that their operations could be shut down for days, even weeks, at a time due to flooding. It creates a climate of instability and undermines investor confidence. We need a clear commitment from the government to address this issue once and for all.”
The question of governance and the prioritization of infrastructure development hangs heavy in the air. Residents voice a growing sense of disillusionment, questioning why a problem that recurs with such predictable regularity has not been adequately addressed. Promises of comprehensive drainage upgrades and improved urban planning often surface during election cycles or in the immediate aftermath of a major flood, only to recede with the waters, leaving behind a residue of broken trust and unmet expectations.
“We’ve heard the promises countless times,” laments Mama Njeri, gesturing towards the receding but still significant puddles outside her market stall. “They come, they make assurances, and then nothing changes. We need more than just words; we need concrete action, sustained investment, and a clear demonstration that our leaders are truly committed to the well-being of this city.”
However, amidst the prevailing sense of frustration, there are also sparks of innovation and resilience emerging from within the community. Local engineers and urban planners are proposing forward-thinking solutions, ranging from the construction of large-scale underground storage tanks and improved canal systems to the implementation of green infrastructure initiatives that utilize natural landscapes, such as wetlands and permeable pavements, to manage stormwater runoff more effectively. Community-based organizations are also mobilizing, organizing clean-up drives to clear blocked drains and advocating for greater government accountability in addressing the infrastructure deficit.
“We cannot afford to simply wait for external intervention,” emphasizes Peter, a young architect who is actively involved in a local environmental advocacy group. “We need to empower ourselves and our communities to be part of the solution. We’re using mapping technologies to identify the most vulnerable areas and working on grassroots initiatives to improve local drainage and raise awareness about responsible waste disposal.”
The recurring crisis in Nakuru serves as a stark and urgent reminder for rapidly urbanizing centers across Kenya and the wider developing world. As the impacts of climate change intensify, bringing with them more frequent and extreme weather events, investing in robust and resilient infrastructure is no longer a discretionary expenditure but a fundamental necessity for ensuring the safety, prosperity, and sustainability of urban populations. For Nakuru, the path forward demands a fundamental shift in priorities, a long-term and unwavering commitment to upgrading its antiquated drainage system, and a collaborative effort that brings together the government, the business community, and its resilient residents. The floodwaters may eventually recede, leaving behind a landscape scarred by their passage, but the underlying vulnerabilities will persist until decisive and sustained action is taken to ensure that Nakuru is no longer a city held hostage by the rains, but a thriving urban center capable of weathering the storms of a changing world.
