Nairobi banks on river revival to transform the city by 2027

President William Ruto addresses Nairobi residents during his tour of the County in Kamukunji on March 10, 2025/PCSThe Nairobi River, once a lifeline turned dumping ground, is at the center of a Sh50 billion regeneration programme that the county believes will change the face of the city.

The project promises to deliver clean waterways, affordable housing, safer neighbourhoods and new livelihoods by 2027.

Launched in March by President William Ruto, the Nairobi River Regeneration Project seeks to restore 27.2km of river and tributaries while reclaiming riparian land, cutting pollution points by up to 90 per cent, and resettling vulnerable communities without illegal evictions.

“Any relocation will follow fair, lawful protocols with resettlement and compensation,” Nairobi Rivers Commission CEO Rtd Brig Joseph Muracia said.

“Informal settlement dwellers are fully involved in public planning processes.”

Already, more than 40,000 young people are employed under the Climate Works Mtaani initiative, unclogging sewers, expanding riverbanks and constructing trunk sewers. Another 18,000 youth are set to join.

Authorities say the works include a 54km sewer line, wetlands and an upgraded Kariobangi treatment plant.

There will also be engineered riverbanks with parks, trees and a 45m buffer zone.

A non-motorised transport corridor with walkways and cycling lanes will stretch 27.2km from Ondiri to Ruai.

By 2027, 10,000 affordable housing units and markets for 20,000 traders will replace flood-prone shanties in Mathare, Shauri Moyo and Dandora.

Riverfront parks, community libraries and urban farms are also planned, with officials projecting a 50 per cent drop in waterborne diseases and flood displacements.

More than 100 community forums will guide implementation, while the state says land value gains, estimated at 30 per cent, will be reinvested locally.

“This is about restoring Nairobi’s heart, reclaiming our rivers as public assets and proving that inclusive, climate-smart development is possible,” Muracia said.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

Unlike past clean-up attempts, this effort pledges structured relocation, youth employment and community engagement. Its success hinges on transparency, sustained funding and protection against elite land grabs that have derailed similar initiatives. If delivered, it could redefine Nairobi’s image as a green, livable capital. If not, it risks becoming another stalled mega-project weighed down by politics.