NAIROBI, Kenya – The government has stepped up efforts to clean the squalid Nairobi River and reclaim its lost glory.
In September 2024, President William Ruto launched the Nairobi River Regeneration Project, an ambitious initiative that involves river restoration and tree planting.
On Friday, February 7, 2025, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed that so far, 2 km of the river have been successfully rehabilitated pending the development of recreational facilities.
The CS spoke when he visited Mukuru kwa Reuben, Embakasi Sub-County, to inspect the ongoing cleaning and beautification of the Ngong River riparian corridor by youths from the area under the ClimateWorX program.
“The ClimateWorX program which was launched by President Ruto in September last year, is changing the fortunes of vulnerable youths in Nairobi while at the same time transforming the Nairobi River Basin into an important economic and recreational ecosystem,” said CS Murkomen.
Which other cities will benefit from the Climate WorX Mtaani
Phase I of the program engaged 20,000 youths in Nairobi, and following its success, CS Murkomen disclosed that the government is in the process of expanding the number to 50,000.
“Plans are underway to roll out the program in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, and other major towns,” the CS said.
The Climate WorX Mtaani initiative seeks to provide a source of employment to thousands of jobless Kenyans across the country.
The Climate WorX initiative in Mathare, Nairobi, has achieved remarkable success. Through its first cohort, the dedicated team of youth and women has been actively involved in waste management, tree planting, and environmental restoration, particularly along the river. Their…
The initiative, which adopts the Kazi Kwa Vijana model, commenced in Nairobi before being cascaded to the four other cities of Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret progressively.
In Nairobi, the youth are engaged in activities that include rehabilitating the 47-kilometre stretch of the Nairobi River Basin.
How the Climate WorX Mtaani Initiative will empower Kenyans
The project aims to transform the river into a valuable commercial and recreational hub, enhancing Nairobi’s stature as Kenya’s capital and a global environmental leader, given its role as host to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).
The programme will employ at least 200,000 people across the country and have a minimum of 1,500 beneficiaries in each county.
The Nairobi River Rehabilitation and Restoration Programme aims to address the severe pollution and degradation of the Nairobi River by implementing various environmental restoration initiatives.
These include waste management, public education campaigns, and infrastructure improvements to enhance water quality and restore the river’s ecosystem.
