We wrote recently about preparing Kasarani's drains ahead of the short rains. This piece covers the other half of that work — what happens once rain has already fallen, drains have backed up somewhere despite preparation, and clean-up shifts from prevention to response.

Why post-flood clean-up is a different kind of work

Pre-rains drainage clearing is planned, scheduled, and relatively controlled — our teams choose the day, the site, and work in dry, predictable conditions. Post-flood clean-up is reactive by definition: waste has been redistributed by moving water, often well beyond where it was originally dumped, and the ground itself may still be wet, unstable or contaminated by whatever the floodwater carried through it. It requires faster mobilisation and different safety precautions than our routine scheduled work.

What we prioritise in the first 48 hours

Immediately after a significant flood event, our first priority is re-clearing any drainage points that backed up during the rain, since a blocked drain that isn't promptly reopened leaves the area vulnerable to repeat flooding with the next rainfall, however light. We also do a rapid visual survey of affected compounds and pathways for hazardous debris — broken glass, displaced sharp metal, anything the floodwater has redistributed into places people will be walking within hours of the water receding.

Coordinating with community health volunteers

Flooding creates public health risk well beyond the visible mess — standing water left in low points becomes a mosquito breeding ground within days, and waste mixed into floodwater can contaminate surfaces and, in some cases, informal water sources nearby. We coordinate directly with community health volunteers immediately after flood events, since they're often already visiting affected households for other health reasons and can flag standing water or contamination risks faster than a separate waste-focused survey would catch on its own.

What's different about waste after a flood, practically

Floodwater doesn't just move existing waste — it also damages and contaminates household items that wouldn't normally be part of a waste stream at all, mattresses, furniture, clothing that's been submerged and is no longer salvageable. Our standard segregation categories don't map neatly onto this kind of waste, so post-flood collection typically runs as a distinct, temporary effort focused on general debris removal rather than our usual organic, recyclable, general split, which resumes once the immediate clean-up is complete.

What we learned from responding to previous flooding

Earlier flood responses taught us that speed matters more than thoroughness in the first response, and thoroughness can follow once the immediate hazards are addressed. A partially cleared drain reopened within a day is more valuable than a perfectly cleared one that takes a week to organise, since every day a blocked drain sits unaddressed is another day of active flood risk with the next rain. We've built faster internal coordination specifically around this lesson, with a small rapid-response team able to mobilise within a day of confirmed flooding rather than waiting for our next scheduled rotation.

Why prevention still matters more than response

None of this changes the basic priority we've stated elsewhere: preventing flooding through pre-rains drainage clearing and reliable, ongoing collection is far more effective, safer, and less costly than responding after the fact. Post-flood clean-up is necessary because prevention can't be perfect, not because it's an equally good substitute for it.

How residents can help during and after flooding

  • Report blocked or overflowing drains to us as soon as they're noticed, ideally before flooding becomes severe.
  • Avoid wading through floodwater unnecessarily, since it may be contaminated by displaced waste or, in some areas, sewage.
  • Keep children away from standing water after a flood event, given both injury and health risks from contamination.
  • Let us know about any household items damaged and set aside for disposal, so we can plan post-flood collection capacity accordingly.

What we tell households immediately after a flood in their area

Our first message to affected households is practical rather than reassuring: avoid unnecessary contact with standing or floodwater, keep children away from it entirely, and flag any damaged items you want included in our post-flood collection rather than trying to dispose of bulky, waterlogged material yourselves. We'd rather households wait for organised collection than attempt informal disposal of heavy, contaminated debris on their own.

Frequently asked questions

How quickly do you respond after a flooding event?

Our rapid-response team aims to begin re-clearing critical drainage points within a day of confirmed flooding, prioritising the most severely affected areas first.

Is post-flood waste handled the same way as regular household waste?

No. Flood-damaged items often can't be usefully segregated the way regular waste is, so post-flood collection typically runs as a distinct general debris removal effort until the immediate situation is resolved.

What should I do with flood-damaged furniture or bedding?

Set it aside for our post-flood collection effort rather than disposing of it informally; contact us to flag larger volumes so we can plan collection accordingly.

Read more about our preventative work in our piece on short rains drainage preparedness, or volunteer for a rapid-response clean-up if flooding affects your area.