Nairobi’s Roads Are a Nightmare: The City of Waters

Let’s be honest, commuting in Nairobi these days feels like something straight out of a survival game. You don’t just “go to class” anymore; you navigate. And if you’re a campus student living in Umoja, Kayole, or even Githurai, then you know exactly what I mean.

Try getting from City Stadium to Umoja in the evening, it’s not a route, it’s a risk. Jogoo Road and Manyanja Road? Absolute warzones. Dodging potholes, hopping over flooded sidewalks, and praying your Uber doesn’t sink into a pool of brown, nameless water. It’s giving “Final Destination: Nairobi edition.”

And we’re not being dramatic. The rains have turned Nairobi into a floating city. Roads disappear under water. Mud swallows shoes whole. Matatus drift like they’re in Fast & Furious. Meanwhile, we’re out here trying to get to lectures without looking like we swam there.

As a UON student told Varcity, “It’s embarrassing, bro. How am I supposed to look fresh when I just trekked through three rivers and a swamp? I left home clean, now I look like I fought with Mother Nature.”

The issue isn’t just the weather, it’s the system. Nairobi’s drainage? Flimsy at best. Road maintenance? Only when elections are near. And the worst part? We’re the ones paying the price. Mechanic bills. Soaked shoes. Missed classes. Contaminated water. How are we supposed to focus on midterms when it feels like we need a boat to get home?

The truth is, the city didn’t suddenly collapse. The rain just exposed what’s been broken for years: neglect, poor planning, and zero accountability.

So, to the powers that be, we say this: Fix the roads. Fix the drainage. Stop treating Nairobi like a sinking ship.

By Yockshard Enyendi