River Cities Network (RCN) online presentation by our colleagues from Kenya on Tuesday 4 February 2025 at 2pm CEST. Find the zoom link to this event here.
The Ngong River, a crucial water source for the semi-arid regions of South-East Kenya and seven counties downstream, joins the Nairobi River and eventually flows into the Athi River. The water quality is, however, severely compromised, rendering it unfit for human consumption or irrigation. This highlights a significant environmental issue affecting the region. The commitment to improving water quality upstream is crucial for downstream communities that rely on this resource. The proposed planning project addresses a 15-kilometer stretch of the Ngong River riparian zone, spanning from Mombasa Road to Likoni Road in Mukuru Kayaba through Enterprise Road to Outer Ring Road in Mukuru Kwa Reuben and Viwandani, and extending to the Kayole-Soweto area, from Jacaranda to Embakasi-Garrison Road.
Flooding and displacement in these areas present an opportunity to reimagine urban riparian zones in a more resilient and sustainable manner. The Ngong River, heavily polluted by waste from informal settlements, contributes to water quality issues for downstream regions relying on the Nairobi and Athi Rivers. Poor sanitation systems in these settlements exacerbate pollution and Kenya’s ongoing water scarcity challenges. Efforts by residents, civil society, and government agencies have aimed at improving sanitation and reducing waste input into the river, thereby enhancing water quality.
The Kenyan government, during the April-May, 2024 flooding in Nairobi, gave an order for demolition of structures within the 30m riparian reserves along the Nairobi rivers. However, without proper management, reclaimed land risks reoccupation, undermining revitalization efforts. This planning project will explore sustainable solutions, emphasizing community ownership and maintenance of riparian spaces.
The initiative aims to demonstrate how improved sanitation and green infrastructure can transform living conditions in informal settlements while aligning with Nairobi’s vision of creating green, non-motorable riverfronts. This project offers a replicable model for African cities grappling with rapid urbanization. It also seeks to deepen understanding of riparian ecosystems and their role in supporting human settlements. By mobilizing and engaging communities and stakeholders, the initiative ensures active participation in identifying and addressing local challenges. It focuses on developing strategies for riparian regeneration, building community capacity, and fostering ownership of sustainable practices. Furthermore, the project advocates for people-centered, place-based land-use practices and the development of policies that prioritize environmental and social sustainability.
The Ngong river riparian regeneration plan will help link public space and infrastructure hence encouraging social interaction. The infrastructure will help the residents of informal dwellers to improve their mental and physical health. The design will also help mitigate flooding, enhance children safety and better environment, reduce steep slopes, clean up river sides and enable tree planting. The trees will act as carbon sinks and hence help mitigate climate change. Additionally, the rehabilitation of all Nairobi rivers will ensure that the water that flows downstream to the agricultural areas of South-East Kenya, a region often adversely affected by extreme droughts due to climate change, is clean and viable for irrigation and other household uses.
