In a move to restore and rejuvenate Nairobi's vital watercourses, the Ministry of Lands has announced the launch of the Nairobi Rivers Regeneration Project on December 22, 2025. This ambitious initiative will focus on the Nairobi, Ngong, and Mathare rivers, as well as their main tributaries, in a bid to tackle urban pollution and improve the city’s environmental health.
With a clear emphasis on collaboration, the project brings together national and county agencies, as well as local communities, to ensure the sustainable development of the city's riparian areas.
In an official notice, the Ministry has called upon genuine landowners and occupiers along the riverbanks to submit ownership documentation within 14 days. The required documents include title deeds, survey plans, leases, and permits from the Water Resource Authority (WRA), the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), or other relevant agencies.
These documents will assist in the verification and proper marking of riparian reserves, wetlands, and springs as part of the demarcation process.
The demarcation exercise will adhere to national laws and regulations, including the Constitution of Kenya 2010, the Land Act 2012, and the Water Act 2016, among others. A multi-agency team, led by the Director of Physical Planning and the Director of Surveys, will oversee the task.
Other participating agencies include the State Department for Interior and National Coordination, National Government Administration Officers (NGAO), WRA, NEMA, the Nairobi City County Government, and the Nairobi Rivers Commission.
This regeneration effort is part of a broader strategy launched in 2025, with President William Ruto unveiling a Sh50 billion Nairobi River Regeneration and Engineering Works Programme. The programme is designed to transform Nairobi's polluted urban waterways into cleaner, safer spaces that will benefit both communities and commerce.
The initiative is also expected to create up to 40,000 jobs in various sectors, including waste management, urban renewal, and infrastructure upgrades.
Among the key aspects of the regeneration project are flood mitigation, sewer network expansion, waste management, and the creation of affordable housing. These efforts are aimed at uplifting informal settlements by providing modern housing, better roads, drainage systems, and essential social amenities.
While efforts to protect Nairobi's rivers have been ongoing for decades, previous clean-up programs have often been piecemeal and lacked long-term sustainability. This new project, however, represents the most comprehensive and ambitious intervention to date, integrating urban planning, infrastructure development, environmental protection, and community engagement into a single, cohesive strategy.
The Ministry stressed that the cooperation of the public is critical for the success of the project. Property owners and occupants along the rivers and their tributaries will be required to allow authorized officers access to their land for surveying, inspections, and demarcation activities. Failure to submit the necessary documents within the stipulated timeframe could delay or hinder the verification process.
