The Deputy President H.E Rigathi Gachagua met partners around the Nairobi River Regeneration. Amb. Jean Kimani, Kenya’s Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat and UN-Habitat Executive Director Ms. Maimunah Mohd Shariff were in attendance. The Deputy President set up the Nairobi River Committee which aims to spearhead efforts to clean the river and return it to its natural state.
The Nairobi River has over the years been exposed to different levels of pollution affecting the quality of life of urban dwellers who depend on it. The Deputy President reaffirmed the Kenya Kwanza Government’s commitment to working with all partners to ensure the river’s purity is totally reclaimed.
On 14th July 2021 UN-Habitat and the Kenyan Government signed an agreement that would provide United Nations technical expertise in a variety of multi-year projects to reclaim and renovate several kilometers of Nairobi River. The Nairobi River Life project, was part of the broader Nairobi River Regeneration Initiative, a joint flagship initiative of the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS). UN-Habitat has continued to provide technical expertise to restore the river system and prioritize the riverfront development.
The Executive director thanked the Vice President for his leadership in setting up the Committee and for bringing all partners on board to transform the river & its surroundings. She also reiterated her organization’s commitment to working with the Government of Kenya to implement the joint vision & take action for the people of Kenya.