Nairobi Rivers Restoration Gets Fresh Push as Government, Diplomats and Development Partners Unite for Cleaner Capital
By Jeff Kizzilah Digital Editor
Government, Development Partners Join Forces to Restore Nairobi’s Rivers
Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa, has joined Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Alice Wahome, in rallying development partners and other stakeholders behind efforts to restore Nairobi’s rivers.
The two Cabinet Secretaries participated in a High-Level Development Partners and Diplomatic Roundtable on the Nairobi Rivers Regeneration Programme, bringing together diplomats, development partners, government officials and key stakeholders to strengthen cooperation and mobilise support for the ambitious river regeneration initiative.
The meeting underscored the importance of Nairobi’s rivers as more than waterways — they are critical lifelines for communities, the environment and the future of Kenya’s capital.
Among the distinguished participants were representatives of UN-Habitat, H.E. Amb. Susan Nakhumicha, and Director of Waste Management and Pollution Control, Mr. Molu Cato, alongside other leaders and partners committed to restoring Nairobi’s urban environment.
The meeting delivered a clear message: restoring Nairobi’s rivers is a shared responsibility that requires collective action and sustained partnerships.
The Government is strengthening collaboration with development partners while advancing measures to improve waste management, protect riparian areas and implement practical solutions aimed at restoring Nairobi’s rivers and surrounding ecosystems.
The initiative seeks to ensure that rivers are no longer treated as dumping grounds, but instead become clean, safe and vibrant spaces that support communities, protect biodiversity and enhance the quality of life for millions of Nairobi residents.
Beyond environmental restoration, the Nairobi Rivers Regeneration Programme is expected to contribute to improved public health, the creation of green spaces, protection of ecosystems and the restoration of dignity to communities living along the river corridors.
The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to working with partners and communities to transform Nairobi’s polluted waterways into clean, living corridors that reflect the aspirations of a healthier, greener and more sustainable capital city.
Together, Nairobi can restore its rivers and build a cleaner, healthier city for present and future generations.
