This archive report was first published on 6 December 2019.
Nairobi's Drainage Woes: A Legacy of Poor Planning ¶
For years, Nairobi has struggled with flooding, a problem that has been attributed to poor spatial planning by authorities. However, the root cause of the city's drainage woes dates back over 120 years.
Construction of the Uganda Railway line, also known as the 'Lunatic Express,' began in 1899. Sir George Whitehouse, the chief engineer in charge of the project, identified Nairobi as the ideal location for the railway depot due to its elevation and temperate climate.
However, senior officials of the British East Africa Protectorate opposed Whitehouse's choice, citing concerns about the area's flatness, poor drainage, and infertility. Despite these concerns, Whitehouse stuck to his decision, and the depot was constructed in Nairobi.
Fast forward to 1906, when the British East Africa Protectorate moved its headquarters from Mombasa to Nairobi, cementing the city's status as the administrative capital of the colony. The city grew rapidly, but the lack of proper drainage infrastructure meant that the city's drainage woes continued.
Today, Nairobi's drainage problems are attributed to a combination of factors, including encroachment and obstruction of riparian reserves, indiscriminate disposal of solid waste, and the omission of support infrastructure before physical developments. The legacy of Sir Whitehouse's decision continues to affect the city, and it remains to be seen whether the city will ever overcome its drainage woes.
