NAIROBI, Kenya — Efforts to restore the Nairobi River ecosystem have received fresh momentum after community representatives from Kangemi and Dagoretti reached a new understanding with the Nairobi Rivers Commission (NRC) on how the Nairobi Rivers Regeneration Programme (NRRP) will be implemented.
The agreement was reached during an engagement forum held on November 10 at the NRC Boardroom, bringing together ward leaders, landowners and officials from Dagoretti, Kikuyu, Kangemi, Kiambu and Riruta.
The discussions were convened by Waithaka MCA and Nairobi County Assembly Minority Leader Antony Karanja.
At the heart of the talks was a shared push to ensure that river restoration plans move forward without infringing on the rights of landowners—many of whom live or operate within areas now classified as riparian zones.
Participants committed to deeper collaboration, regular community engagement and a more transparent approach to defining riparian boundaries.
NRC Deputy Commissioner Arch. Musuvo Mumo reiterated that the regeneration project will strictly follow technical guidelines when determining riparian reserves.
He clarified that while these zones may fall within private property, owners retain their land rights subject to environmental safeguards.
“Planning is a process, and the policies that come out of it will guide what can or cannot be built close to the river,” he said, noting that agencies such as the Water Resources Authority and NEMA will jointly verify the true high-water mark.
Karanja said the forum successfully addressed misinformation that has caused anxiety in several neighbourhoods.
He announced plans for targeted engagements at the community level to ensure residents understand the programme’s goals.
“Our role is to bridge the gap between the people and development programmes. This dialogue showed that consensus is possible,” he said.
NRC Chairperson Bishop Margaret Wanjiru praised the constructive tone, saying the Commission is ready to revisit regulations that residents feel are unclear or outdated—especially provisions on Special Planning Areas.
She added that the NRRP is as much a climate resilience project as it is an environmental cleanup effort.
For years, rapid urbanisation, inadequate sewerage systems and unchecked pollution have degraded Nairobi’s waterways.
The city’s sewerage network, built in 1965 for a fraction of today’s population, now struggles to serve more than five million residents.
This has contributed to widespread dumping, raw sewage discharge and the gradual destruction of ecosystems such as the Ondiri Wetland.
Communities at the forum pledged to support the restoration plan, calling for the meaningful inclusion of youth through programmes such as Climate WorX.
The meeting closed with a unified call to action—urging government agencies, local leaders and residents to treat the river cleanup as a shared responsibility that will determine the future livability of the capital.
