Kenya’s ambitious plan to restore the ecological health of the Nairobi River has taken a significant step forward. On Monday, Kenyan President William Ruto led the groundbreaking ceremony for the restoration project, which will be spearheaded by Chinese company Energy China.
The project aims to rejuvenate the polluted Nairobi River Basin, which has suffered from decades of contamination and seasonal flooding. The initiative is expected to run alongside an affordable housing project over the next four years, with a budget of 50 billion Kenyan shillings (about $388 million).
“This project will give us an opportunity to expand and deepen the Nairobi River while constructing a 60-kilometer sewer line to carry wastewater, making Nairobi a cleaner and more respectable city,” President Ruto said during the ceremony.
The restoration is set to create new jobs for young people, improve public health, and enhance environmental sustainability in Kenya’s capital. The construction of decent homes connected to a modern sewer system along the rehabilitated river will also facilitate the resettlement of flood victims.
The Nairobi River originates from the northwestern outskirts of Nairobi, flowing through southeastern residential areas. Its rehabilitation includes constructing main sewage pipelines, wastewater treatment plants, protecting upstream water sources, river dredging, stormwater management, solid waste treatment, landscaping, and developing affordable housing.
Lyu Guoqing, managing director of Energy China, emphasized the company’s commitment to leveraging advanced technologies and mobilizing a local workforce to accelerate the river’s restoration. According to Li Cheng, project manager at Energy China, the rehabilitation is expected to take two years, bringing substantial environmental improvements to riparian communities upon completion.
Beyond environmental benefits, the initiative is anticipated to increase land value in the metropolitan area, promote tourism, boost Kenya’s economic growth, and provide significant social benefits to local communities.
