President William Ruto has praised the progress made in the Nairobi River clean-up project, describing it as a major step toward transforming the capital into a modern and livable city.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the 27-kilometre sewer lines under construction on both sides of the river, the President said the project will restore dignity to residents and improve public health.
“It is not right for millions of people in this city to continue living in squalor. That is why we have dedicated sufficient resources to rehabilitate this river,” he said.
Major Infrastructure Works Underway
The Nairobi River Regeneration Programme includes:
Construction of two 27km sewer lines
Building of 44 new bridges along the river stretch
Rehabilitation of public spaces such as Kamukunji Community Park
Clean-up of the Ngomongo Quarry dumpsite in Ruaraka
The President began his tour in Lucky Summer, Ruaraka Constituency, before proceeding to Dandora Bridge and other sections of the river corridor.
He said the clean-up is not just about restoring the river but regenerating the entire basin to improve sanitation, reduce pollution and create green spaces.
Jobs for Youth Through ClimateWorx
The Head of State revealed that 45,000 young people are currently employed under the ClimateWorx Mtaani initiative, which is supporting the clean-up exercise and providing income opportunities.
He assured youth who depend on activities at the Ngomongo dumpsite that they would not lose their livelihoods.
“If anything, we will enhance it,” he said.
KSh80 Billion Cooperation Deal
The President also spoke about the KSh80 billion cooperation agreement signed between the National Government and Johnson Sakaja’s administration to accelerate service delivery in Nairobi.
Governor Sakaja said the partnership would unlock additional resources to modernize the city, noting that the county’s annual budget of KSh40 billion would now more than double through joint efforts.
President Ruto clarified that county functions have not been transferred to the National Government but emphasized that collaboration is necessary to fix long-standing challenges in the capital.
Housing, Roads and Electricity
As part of the broader transformation agenda, the President announced:
Construction of 110,000 affordable housing units in Nairobi
Allocation of KSh13 billion for 200km of roads across all wards
KSh1.5 billion for transformers and last-mile electricity connections in informal settlements
Construction of 16 modern markets, including a planned KSh5 billion Gikomba Market
He also assured residents living along the river corridor that there would be no forced evictions without alternative settlement plans. The government, he said, will build social amenities such as schools, playgrounds, libraries and community halls.
Political Undertone
During the visit, President Ruto challenged his political rivals to present their development plans, saying his administration has a clear track record and a defined agenda for the future.
The Nairobi River clean-up is one of the flagship urban renewal projects under his administration, aimed at restoring environmental sustainability while creating jobs and improving living standards for city residents.
If completed as planned, the programme could mark one of the most significant transformations of Nairobi’s urban environment in decades.
