Nairobi is a name that quite literally translates to “a place of cool water”, a name that is evident by the number of rivers and stream that can be seen across the city and surrounding areas. One of the most famous of these rivers is of course the Nairobi River.

However, for many years, Nairobi City County’s rivers and streams have served as open dumping grounds, not only in informal areas but also urban and peri urban regions due to the lack of efficient solid waste collection systems.

This pervasive practice has led to severe pollution of these water bodies with plastics, solid waste, and liquid waste. The repercussions are dire – rivers become prone to flooding during the rainy season due to siltation and blockages from discarded debris, causing the riverbed to rise. This, in turn, creates a breeding ground for disease-carrying vectors, further compromising the delicate river ecosystem.

As the Deputy President H.E Gachagua pointed out earlier this year, there is an urgent need to clean up the Nairobi River, a need that the government has made a commitment to fulfil.

The Water Resources Authority (WRA) has announced its proactive role in monitoring and upholding water quality standards while enforcing pollution control measures for Nairobi’s rivers.

The core focus of this initiative is to protect the invaluable water resources that the city depends upon. By spearheading these essential efforts, WRA is committed to safeguarding both the environment and the intricate river system that sustains Nairobi.

The PS State Department for Water and Sanitation Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh accompanied by WRA Chair Donald Murgor, CEO Mohamed Shurie, Director General NEMA, Secretary Administration Mr. Stephen Kihara and other senior Ministry officials inspected the ongoing clean up exercise on the Nairobi River from Gatina, Kawangware, and Dagoret constituency.

In discharging its mandate, WRA continuously monitors water quality and implements pollution control measures to mitigate the growing threats to Kenya’s limited freshwater resources.