Nairobi has secured a spot among the world’s 10 most climate-resilient cities as Governor Sakaja Johnson steps up preparations for the expected El Niño rains and possible flooding across the capital.
A new assessment by climate intelligence company AlphaGeo placed Nairobi 10th out of 72 major cities worldwide and second in Africa after Addis Ababa, which ranked second globally.
The ranking comes as the county government increases its focus on flood prevention, drainage improvement and emergency preparedness in an effort to limit the impact of heavy rains on residents, businesses and infrastructure.
Chicago was ranked the world’s most climate-resilient city, followed by Addis Ababa, Melbourne, Barcelona, Ankara, Buenos Aires, Paris, Istanbul, Bogotá and Nairobi.
AlphaGeo used its Climate Risk & Resilience Index (CRRI) to assess the cities, looking at their exposure to six major climate hazards — inland and coastal flooding, heat stress, drought, wildfires and hurricane winds — alongside their ability to adapt to such threats.
Nairobi scored 13 on the Resilience-Adjusted Risk (RAJ) scale, putting it in the low residual-risk category. The index considers a lower score to be an indication of stronger resilience.
The assessment points to Nairobi’s elevation and climate geography as some of the factors supporting its position. At the same time, the city is strengthening its own preparedness as extreme weather events continue to pose risks to people and property.
Sakaja’s administration has adopted a multi-agency strategy to prepare the city for the anticipated rains. The county is holding weekly meetings with the Kenya Red Cross, Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), disaster management teams and other agencies.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja chairing a Multi-Agency El Niño Preparedness Team meeting at City Hall on September 10, 2026.
PHOTO/NCCG
The meetings are being used to review the city’s readiness, identify areas likely to be affected by flooding and agree on measures that can be taken before the rains intensify.
“Our priority is to ensure Nairobi is fully prepared before the rains intensify. Through the multi-agency approach, we are identifying flood hotspots, improving drainage and strengthening our emergency response so that we can protect lives, businesses and infrastructure,” Sakaja said.
The county has committed Sh2.4 billion towards drainage works as part of the preparations.
The investment will go towards clearing and deepening existing drainage systems, building new ones and repairing roads and pathways damaged by heavy rainfall.
Sixteen flood hotspots have been listed for urgent action, with drainage clearance and deepening works already in progress.
The areas being targeted include sections along Mombasa Road, Chiromo, Kangundo Road and Thika Road, which have been identified as requiring attention to reduce the danger of flooding.
Beyond drainage, the county is also working to improve its ability to respond when emergencies occur. Emergency and disaster response teams are undergoing joint training aimed at helping different agencies act faster and coordinate their operations during incidents.
“Climate resilience is not just about responding when disaster strikes; it is about preparing in advance. We are working with all relevant agencies to deepen and construct drainage systems, train response teams and ensure that Nairobi is ready to manage heavy rains,” Sakaja said.
Residents have also been provided with emergency hotlines 1199 and 1508 through which they can seek assistance. An emergency response centre is being established to receive distress calls and coordinate action by the relevant teams.
The county’s approach is aimed at dealing with potential flood risks before they turn into emergencies, rather than waiting for flooding to occur before taking action.
The AlphaGeo ranking offers a timely assessment of Nairobi’s ability to withstand climate threats as the county continues with measures aimed at ensuring the capital is better prepared for the expected El Niño rains.