A sewer system being fixed along the Nairobi Basin/handout
Thousands of Nairobi residents living along the Nairobi River stand to benefit from cleaner neighbourhoods, improved sanitation and reduced flooding.
This is as the government's ambitious river regeneration programme gathers pace.
A major milestone has been recorded in the upgrade of the city's sewerage system, with ongoing works aimed at reducing pollution and restoring the heavily degraded Nairobi River ecosystem.
Under the Nairobi River Regeneration Programme, a 27-kilometre trunk sewer line is being constructed along the Nairobi River corridor.
It will create an interceptor system that diverts wastewater away from the river and surrounding communities.
Interior Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo said the upgraded sewer network will have the capacity to treat 60 million litres of wastewater a day, helping to curb pollution, improve sanitation and protect the river ecosystem.
"As Nairobi continues to experience rapid urban growth, its critical infrastructure must be expanded, upgraded and modernised to meet the demands of a thriving capital city," Omollo said.
He said significant progress has already been made in upgrading the sewerage system serving Lucky Summer and Baba Dogo in Ruaraka constituency under the Nairobi River Regeneration Programme.
Omollo added that the ClimateWorX Mtaani Initiative has created employment opportunities for more than 45,000 young people and women engaged in river clean-up, drainage maintenance and environmental restoration.
He said this demonstrates the close link between infrastructure development, environmental conservation and community empowerment.
He said the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration, through the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs), has played a key coordination role by supporting implementation of the project and mobilising communities participating in the ClimateWorX Mtaani Initiative.
The Nairobi Rivers Commission, which is overseeing the regeneration of the heavily polluted Nairobi River Basin, has also reported significant progress across several components of the multi-agency programme.
The commission's chief executive officer Joseph Muracia said major infrastructure works are at different stages of completion, with several key projects already more than halfway complete.
Construction of parks, roads, pedestrian walkways, outdoor sports facilities and a 72-kilometre trunk sewer system is 55 per cent complete.
The Kariobangi Wastewater Treatment Plant, with a capacity of 60,000 cubic metres, is 25 per cent complete, while catchment restoration and protection works have reached 40 per cent.
Flood control and stormwater management works are 45 per cent complete, while rehabilitation of the Dandora dumpsite has reached 55 per cent.
Transport infrastructure, including footpaths and cycle lanes, is 28 per cent complete, while landscaped recreation facilities are 45 per cent complete.
Support infrastructure, including service buildings, has reached 25 per cent completion, while social and affordable housing and market development along the river corridor stand at 35 per cent.
Muracia said the government will provide alternative land for mechanics currently operating in the Grogan area to pave the way for redevelopment of the river corridor without disrupting their livelihoods.
The Nairobi River Regeneration Programme is being implemented under a broader government initiative developed by a special task force working with China Energy Engineering Corporation on project design and planning.
The first phase of the catalytic project was approved on September 18, 2024, following consultations involving ministries, departments and agencies.
Led by the Ministry of Defence, the programme covers 27.2 kilometres of the Nairobi River Basin. It aims to restore the river ecosystem while addressing urban challenges such as pollution and flooding.
Key interventions include the construction of more than 54 kilometres of new trunk sewer lines stretching from Naivasha Road to Dandora Falls to reduce the discharge of untreated waste into the river.
The programme also includes dredging, widening and rehabilitation of the Nairobi, Ngong and Mathare rivers.
Urban regeneration plans feature affordable housing, modern markets, pedestrian walkways, cycle lanes and landscaped riverbanks designed to improve environmental quality and create public recreational spaces.
Riverbank stabilisation works are also under way to reduce flooding during heavy rains and improve the resilience of surrounding communities.
According to the commission, the programme is expected to deliver wide-ranging social, environmental and economic benefits.
These include improved sanitation, reduced flooding and erosion, safer living conditions for riverine communities and enhanced urban aesthetics.
Environmental gains are expected through improved water quality, restoration of aquatic ecosystems and strengthened climate change adaptation.
Economic benefits include job creation and the development of new tourism and recreational spaces.
Meanwhile, the State Department for Housing and Urban Development is implementing complementary urban renewal projects across Nairobi to modernise public infrastructure.
Among them is the redevelopment of Kamukunji Grounds into Kamukunji Recreation Park.
The upgraded facility now features football pitches, basketball courts, a boxing ring, a community centre with a library and ICT hub, an amphitheatre, children's play areas, landscaped gardens, paved walkways and solar-powered lighting.
The park also incorporates improved drainage and flood control systems in line with the broader Nairobi River regeneration agenda.
Kamukunji Grounds remains one of Kenya's most significant civic spaces, having hosted key gatherings during the Saba Saba movement, which played a pivotal role in the country's struggle for multi-party democracy.
