Government reaffirms commitment to reclaim riparian land in Nairobi

By Robert Mutasi 

Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry Aden Duale reiterated that the government was committed to reclaiming all riparian land along the 47-kilometer stretch of the river ecosystem in Nairobi.

In a speech before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry, and Mining chaired by Nakuru Town East MP Hon. David Gikaria, Duale stated that nobody was going to stand in the way of reclamation, irrespective of who owned the land.

Responding to questions by Members of Parliament Hon. T.J. Kajwang' (Ruaraka) and Hon. Anthony Oluoch (Mathare), Duale outlined a plan rehabilitative of the river network in Nairobi, which over the years has been polluted and subjected to illegal encroachments. 

He emphasized that this is core to the government's environmental and climate change agenda.

"The government is committed to reclaiming all riparian land along the Nairobi River ecosystem, and we will proceed irrespective of whoever owns it. This is about environmental restoration and ensuring that the health of the city's rivers is maintained for future generations," said Duale.

This rehabilitation forms part of the larger program dubbed Climate Worx Mtaani-an 18-month multi-agency effort aimed at returning Nairobi's rivers to their former pristine state. 

This ambitious project is scheduled to clean the rivers, remove the encroachments, and rehabilitate the riverbanks for long-term sustainability.

Duale also spoke to the legal and administrative framework behind the initiative. This, he explained, is that the Nairobi Rivers Commission, which is driving the project, was legally established by President William Ruto. 

He assured the committee that the tabling of the Gazette Notice before Parliament, which would formally operationalize the commission, is forthcoming.

"Once the Gazette Notice is tabled, we will be able to move with the Commission's full mandate. The process is on course, and I promise to complete it as soon as possible," Duale said.

Aside from declaring the status of the restoration of Nairobi Rivers, Duale brought in the proposed nuclear power plant in Uyombo, Kilifi North.

He informed the committee that the government is conducting an in-depth social and environmental impact assessment aimed at ascertaining the potential impacts the project may have on the environment and communities surrounding the site.

The assessment is likely to determine if the nuclear plant, which has greatly raised concern among local stakeholders, is viable or not.

The session at Bunge Towers outlined the dual focus of government efforts toward environmental restoration in urban areas and, secondly, careful consideration of major infrastructure projects that may impact Kenya's landscape.