Submerged homesteads in Nyong'ong'a Sub Location in Nyakach, Kisumu County on March 7, 2026.
As heavy rains continue to pound several parts of the country, leaving a trail of deaths, destruction and displacement, government records show that Kenya has been setting aside billions for flood control.
In a mini budget for the current financial year ending in June, the National Treasury has allocated around Sh14 million for El-Nino interventions even as it reduced money earmarked for flood mitigation to Sh1,814,835,895 from Sh2 billion.
In total, the government spent Sh35 billion for flood control, water storage and mitigation projects over the last four years, with Sh2 billion allocated this year.
The latest downpours have already claimed lives and displaced families in several parts of Nairobi, once again exposing the country’s vulnerability to seasonal floods despite years of public spending aimed at mitigating such disasters.
Budget documents show that between the 2021/22 and 2024/25 financial years, the national government allocated about Sh34.9 billion to programmes aimed at flood control, water harvesting, irrigation storage and related mitigation works across several ministries and regional development authorities.
Vehicles remain partially submerged in floodwaters after heavy rainfall caused severe water accumulation on streets in Nairobi, on March 06, 2026.
In the current financial year, the government has set aside Sh1.5 billion for flood control and water storage, a drop from Sh2.2 billion allocated in June last year.
13 kilometres of dykes
Flood control works specifically have been doubled from Sh100 million to Sh200 million, with the government noting that 13 kilometres of dykes have been built as well as flood control structures.
The spending has largely been channelled through the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, the State Department for Irrigation, and the State Department for ASALs and Regional Development, which supervises regional authorities responsible for basin management and development projects.
A rugby fan dives into a flooded KCB Sports Club pitch in Nairobi on March 7, 2026.
In the 2021/22 financial year, the government set aside the largest allocation in the four-year period, committing Sh12.36 billion to water storage and flood control initiatives. The bulk of this money—about Sh8.88 billion—was directed towards water storage and flood control projects under the Ministry of Water and Sanitation.
Another Sh3.27 billion was allocated to water harvesting and storage for irrigation, while Sh215 million went to flood control works funded through external support programmes.
The allocations dropped in the 2022/23 financial year, though the government still committed Sh9.68 billion to flood-related interventions. Of this amount, Sh7.55 billion went to water storage and flood control projects under the ministry, while Sh1.24 billion supported water harvesting and storage for irrigation.
An additional Sh414.6 million was channelled through the State Department for Irrigation for water storage and flood control initiatives, while Sh18 million funded flood control works under the Emergency Support Programme.
Government spending declined further in the 2023/24 financial year, with allocations falling to Sh5.7 billion. During the year, the State Department for Irrigation received Sh2.71 billion for water storage and flood control works.
Regional development authorities operating under the State Department for ASALs and Regional Development were allocated about Sh2.9 billion for projects classified under the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and flood control priorities.
The funds were distributed across several authorities, including the Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA), Ewaso Ng’iro North Development Authority (ENNDA), Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA), Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA), Coast Development Authority (CDA) and Ewaso Ng’iro South Development Authority (ENSDA).
The State Department for Correctional Services also received Sh100 million during the same year for emergency flood mitigation works in prisons.
In the current 2024/25 financial year, the government has allocated approximately Sh7.17 billion towards flood mitigation and water storage projects.
The State Department for Irrigation accounts for the largest share of this funding, receiving Sh4.16 billion for water storage, irrigation water harvesting and flood control works.
Read: Nairobi floods: Death toll rises to 23 as 29 people rescued, 71 vehicles swept away police say
Another Sh2 billion has been allocated to the State Department for Transport for flood mitigation works, largely targeting roads and related infrastructure that are frequently damaged during heavy rains.
Regional development authorities under the ASALs and Regional Development department have been allocated about Sh949.5 million for flood control initiatives linked to the BETA development agenda.
A man uses a rope to pull a container from flood water after heavy rains flooded a quarry within Kamulu area of Nairobi County, Kenya, March 6, 2026.
The State Department for Correctional Services has also been allocated Sh64.9 million for emergency flood mitigation works in prisons.
Mitigation efforts
Despite the billions spent on mitigation efforts, flooding remains a recurring challenge in many parts of Kenya, particularly during the long rains season.
Last year’s heavy rains caused widespread destruction, displacing thousands of families, destroying homes and infrastructure, and disrupting transport networks across several counties.
Experts say the persistence of floods highlights structural weaknesses in Kenya’s flood management approach, including inadequate drainage infrastructure, encroachment on riparian land and delayed implementation of water storage projects.
A matatu lies on top of a private car as a result of heavy rainfall in the Grogan area in downtown Nairobi on March 7, 2026.
Regional development authorities are expected to play a key role in flood management by implementing dams, river basin management and irrigation projects that regulate water flows and store excess runoff during heavy rains.
However, several of these projects have historically faced challenges including delayed procurement, stalled construction works and funding gaps.
Climate scientists have also warned that climate change is likely to intensify extreme weather events, meaning that Kenya could experience more frequent and severe floods in the coming years.
This has increased pressure on the government to accelerate investments in dams, water reservoirs, river training works and urban drainage systems.
At the same time, analysts argue that closer monitoring of how flood control funds are spent will be necessary to ensure that the billions allocated translate into tangible infrastructure capable of reducing the country’s vulnerability to floods.
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