The Nairobi river regeneration project which was launched last year in an attempt to clean the polluted rivers in Nairobi is taking shape.
The Sh45 billion project funded by the State along the Nairobi River has been divided into different sites being carried out by China Engineering group.
The project that started in May 2024 is expected to be handed over in January 2027 and it consists of five components that the contractor is working on.
These include flood control works, new sewer-line along the river to deal with liquid waste, construction of bridges, walkways for pedestrians, greening and restoration of catchment areas.
Currently the regeneration projects are running in Kamukunji grounds, Korokocho, Lucky Summer and City cotton in Buruburu area.
At Kamukunji grounds the regeneration project involves putting up community amenities along the river.
“We are working on community programmes that are near the river as part of regeneration project where we are redoing the football pitch,” the project lead engineer Njoroge Kahigu explained
Adding that, “we have two multi-purpose pitches that host basketball, a community centre that has a social hall, a library and kindergarten and ablution blocks,”
The area is also being landscaped to allow the public to allow the residents to enjoy a walkway that runs from Dandora falls all the way to town along the River on both sides.
In another site at city cotton around Buru-buru area, a team on the site is working on river training which involves deepening and widening the river bank.
At the Korokocho/Babadogo area the ongoing project involves pushing garbage spilling over from Dandora dumpsite 50 metres away from the river bank.
“This waste there is nothing else you can do with it, because it has no coloristic value and so contaminated, so we cut take it up and shape to ensure that there is no collapse,” explained Kahigu
Similarly, the regeneration at the area will involve planting trees, landscaping and beatification to allow the residents more spaces along the river.
Not far from the area is Lucky Summer where another group is working on the gabions and the foundation of a 6 kilometer sewer-line that goes all the way to Naivasha road.
It is expected that the sewer-line that will be connected to the estates along the river will help in curbing channeling human wastes to the river as is the case in some areas mostly in informal settlements.
The project is carried out by a multi agency team involving Athi water, Nairobi County government of Nairobi, Kura and Kenya Forest service among other agencies.
