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City Hall waives permits for emergency drainage repairs

Building owners are ordinarily supposed to seek City Hall’s approval and pay a license fee of Sh4,000 before undertaking any repairs to their drainage systems/FILE

Building owners are ordinarily supposed to seek City Hall’s approval and pay a license fee of Sh4,000 before undertaking any repairs to their drainage systems/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 2 -The Nairobi County Government has waived permit fees for building owners seeking to renovate their drainage systems to enable emergency repairs and upgrades as a way of coping with ongoing heavy rains.

Building owners are ordinarily supposed to seek City Hall’s approval and pay a license fee of Sh4,000 before undertaking any repairs to their drainage systems.

Kidero however says the exemption will only affect changes in a minor domestic drainage system.

“Fees for minor domestic drainage clearing, improvement and maintenance works have been waived during this period,” he said.
New or major repairs, he says will have to go through the normal process of drawing maps and seeking approvals to avoid building of shoddy systems.

“Where the scope of the works is large in magnitude and affect large areas, persons are encouraged to contact the County Government for technical advice and assistance,” the Governor explained.

Kidero said the waiver will alleviate suffering for those whose premises are prone to flooding due to overstretched storm drainage systems.

The floods have claimed lives of tens of the city residents and left property of unknown value destroyed.

The worst of the floods has been the collapsing of the 6 storey building, which has so far claimed 21 lives.

The steady rain that has been pounding the City reached an all-time high of 80mm against average normal rainfall of 12mm.

The weatherman has predicted that the city and other parts of the country are likely to continue receiving more than the average rainfall.

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“I am deeply saddened by the scenes, pictures and videos of the aftermath of recent heavy rains. My prayers and thoughts are with all those who have been affected in one way or the other,” the governor said.

Some of the city roads earmarked as being prone to flooding include the Langata Road (T-mall) area, Muhoho Road/Popo Road Junction, Muhoho Road at Ngong river crossing, Lusaka Road and Baricho Road both at anti-malaria drain crossing.

Others include Jogoo Road near Makadara Law Courts, James Gichuru Road at Olenguruone Junction and near Convent Drive junction, Marcus Gurvey/Chania Avenue Junction, Kipevu/Ushirika Road junction, Langata South Road at Tangaza College and near Langata Road, Lower Kabete/Brookside Drive junction, Jakaya Kikwete Road at outlet of main drainage from DOD and Lenana Road next to DOD gate.

Emergency responders have been put on standby to rescue motorists stranded in these sections.

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