Knowing how to prevent flooding in a compound is most useful before the first heavy storm, not during it. Most compound flooding comes from a few predictable causes: blocked drains, paving that falls the wrong way, roof water with nowhere to go, and silt washed off building sites. This checklist takes you through what to check before, during and after the rains. Print it, walk your compound with it, and fix what you find.
This season’s outlook
For the October to December 2026 short rains, the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority expected above-average rainfall over most counties. For Nairobi, it expected the rains to start in the second or third week of October and continue into January 2027 (KMSA outlook, 26 August 2026). In other words, if you have not prepared yet, now is the time.
How to prevent flooding in a compound before the first storm
Drains and channels
- Clear every channel, grating and inlet of leaves, soil and rubbish.
- Pour a bucket of water into each channel and watch it flow to the outlet.
- Check the outlet itself, where water leaves your compound, is open and clear.
- Look for cracked or displaced channel units and gaps where water escapes.
Roofs and downpipes
- Clear gutters of leaves and debris.
- Check every downpipe is connected and discharges into a channel, a tank or a soakaway, never onto paving or against a wall.
- Make sure tank overflows lead somewhere safe.
Paving
- Walk the driveway and paths after watering them: does water run to the channels, or does it pool?
- Mark any dips, sunken patches or rocking blocks.
- Check that kerbs are upright and that no gaps let water run under the paving edges.
- Top up joint sand where joints are empty.
Walls and the building
- Clear weep holes in boundary walls so trapped water can escape.
- Make sure soil and paving fall away from the house walls.
- Check that nothing blocks the gap between the ground and the damp-proof course.
Building sites and fresh work
- Cover stacked cement, sand and blocks.
- Protect open trenches and excavations so they do not fill with water and collapse.
- Stop soil and sand from washing into drains: bund stockpiles or cover them.
- Cover fresh walling and fresh concrete at the end of each day.
Our guide to building with concrete blocks explains why fresh work needs protecting.
During the rains
- Watch where the water actually goes in a downpour. Take photos and videos, which are invaluable for planning repairs.
- Keep drains clear; check them after every heavy storm.
- Note where water ponds and where it enters the paving.
- Keep heavy vehicles off soft, waterlogged areas of paving.
- Stay safe: keep away from flooded electrical points, and never walk through moving water.
After the rains
- Walk the paving again once it is dry and mark any new dips.
- Repair sunken areas, reset loose kerbs and relay areas that pond. Our cabro maintenance guide explains how.
- Remove silt from channels before it sets hard.
- Plan permanent fixes for any problem the rains revealed.
Quick fixes now, proper fixes in dry weather
Some jobs work immediately, while others must wait. In particular:
| Do now | Wait for dry weather |
|---|---|
| Clear drains, gutters and outlets | Relaying sunken paving |
| Redirect a downpipe with a temporary pipe | Installing new channel runs |
| Sandbag a low doorway | Rebuilding the base under a driveway |
| Cover materials and fresh work | Resetting kerbs on new concrete |
Relaying paving or building drains in heavy rain usually traps water in the new base, so the repair fails. As a result, the best time for permanent work is the dry season before the next rains.
When the problem needs a contractor
Call a professional when water enters the house or when the same area floods every storm. Likewise, call one when paving keeps sinking, or when water from your compound affects a neighbour or the road. These are drainage design problems, so they need a proper layout. Our guide to storm water drainage solutions explains the options, and expansive clay plots should read cabro on black cotton soil.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my compound flood even though it has drains?
Usually because the drains are blocked, too small, or not where the water actually runs. Sometimes, too, the paving falls away from the channels, so water never reaches them. Watching the compound in a downpour shows you which.
Can I fix a flooded driveway during the rains?
You can clear drains and redirect downpipes straight away. However, relaying paving or rebuilding the base should wait for dry weather, otherwise the new base traps water and fails again.
Where should roof water go?
Into a channel, a tank or a soakaway, never onto the paving or against a wall. Roof water is often the largest flow in a compound, so connecting the downpipes properly is one of the cheapest ways to prevent flooding.
Book a pre-rains drainage inspection
The simplest way to learn how to prevent flooding in a compound is to have someone walk it with you. Send us photos of where water collects and your location, and we will inspect the compound, then propose and quote channels, kerbs and paving repairs.
- Book a drainage inspection, or WhatsApp +254 718 429 063.
- See Preco’s drainage channels.