•The commission is part of Ruto's grand plan to clean up Nairobi City and restore the “filthy” capital to its former glory.
Image: FILE
Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has landed a new job after being appointed by President William Ruto to be a member of the Nairobi Rivers Commission.
Through a gazette notice dated December 2, 2022, Ruto named Pamela A. Olet as the chairperson of the commission.
Other members include Eva Muhia – Representing Riverine Communities, Elizabeth Wathuti – Representing Civil Society, Carlota Dal Lago – Representing the Private Sector, Elijah Biama – Representing Academia and Duncan Ojwang – Representing Academia.
Also, Mumo Musuva – Representative from Nairobi City County and Grace Senewa Mesopirr — Representing the Ministry of Environment and Forestry are part of the commission.
The members shall hold office for a term of three years renewable once based on performance.
The Commission shall be financed through funding appropriated for the Commission’s use by the National Government and the Nairobi City County Government as well as donations.
The commission is part of Ruto's grand plan to clean up Nairobi City and restore the “filthy” capital to its former glory.
According to Ruto, the Nairobi Rivers Commission has been tasked to “Reclaim the rivers of Nairobi as a spine to the city's blue and green infrastructure for a better urban environment and quality of life."
“In particular reference to Nairobi River Basin Project (UNEP, 2000); Adopt-A-River Initiative (UNEP and Rotary Clubs, 2019–ongoing), Nairobi River Regeneration Initiative (UN-Habitat and GoK, 2020– ongoing); and Urban Rivers Regeneration Programme (NEMA, 2019 – 2024) and incorporate the lessons to the new initiative,” reads the Gazette Notice.
The commission will also be expected to examine previous reports and recommendations made to reclaim the Nairobi River and adopt lessons learnt in the new initiative.
Ruto had earlier explained that his dream is to sort out the filth in the capital city and make Nairobi a place where people can enjoy it and enterprises can grow by getting rid of sewage and all other effluents that are going into the city's rivers.
“If you look at our rivers in Nairobi, it is a sad story and I want to assure the residents of Nairobi that we will make the Nairobi River what it should be,” said President Ruto.