User Blocked by Online Service

Nairobi’s informal settlement of Mukuru is home to an estimated 150,000 people, many of whom live in villages prone to flooding and poor drainage. The settlement’s guide, a man known as ‘Future’, explains that the community invited builders to dump rubble along the riverbank, creating a barrier that traps water and sewage, causing it to flow into homes.

Researchers from the African Population and Health Research Centre studied the impact of river flooding on mental health in Mukuru, but instead found that poor drainage was a major contributor to trauma and stress. 44% of residents showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, while 24% showed signs of depression.

Poor drainage and mental health are linked in many African countries. Studies have shown that flooding can lead to increased depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

In Mukuru, the situation is exacerbated by the community’s attempts to control nature. The creation of a buffer zone along the riverbank has done little to prevent flooding, and the use of rubble to create a barrier has only made the problem worse. Francis Mukiri Muthoni, a village elder, explains that the industrial area above Mukuru has clogged drains, which pick up human waste and displace sewage from pit toilets and septic tanks.

The research team compared their findings in Mukuru with those in Manyatta, an informal settlement in Kisumu. While Manyatta experiences fewer floods, they found that 30% of residents showed signs of PTSD, and 19% showed signs of depression. The rates are lower than in Mukuru, but still high, suggesting that poor drainage and sanitation are major contributors to mental health problems.

In Manyatta, poor drainage is a major quality of life issue, with residents facing problems such as clogged drains and sewage flowing into their homes. The construction of new drains is underway, but property owners with drain frontage charge their neighbors for maintenance, leading to blockages and flooding. James Bosse, a psychologist working for the Kisumu county government, emphasizes that the impact of water on people’s lives should not be minimized, and that poor drainage and sanitation are significant factors in mental health problems.

The situation in Mukuru and other informal settlements highlights the need for improved drainage and sanitation infrastructure. They require better systems to reduce the risk of waterborne diseases and improve mental health outcomes. According to the World Health Organization, governments should invest in improved sanitation and drainage infrastructure.

Residents of Mukuru and other informal settlements continue to struggle with the physical and mental health impacts of poor drainage and flooding. The situation is complex, and there is no easy solution, but it is clear that improved drainage and sanitation infrastructure are essential for reducing the risk of waterborne diseases and improving mental health outcomes. As one resident of Manyatta noted, “People here might not experience natural floods, but water is still a major problem.”

Drainage systems in these areas are often inadequate.