The Ministry of Lands, Public Works and Housing has teamed up with the Nairobi County Government to hasten the transformation of the filthy Nairobi River, which will also result in the building of social and affordable housing and other infrastructure along the waterways. 

In a plan seen by People Daily, the development will boost the protection, restoration, rehabilitation and beautification works for the Nairobi River Basin.  

The report dated April 11, 2025, says social and affordable housing and associated social and physical infrastructure in the informal settlements or slums along the corridor, will help in cleaning the river. 

The Nairobi River Corridor –Special Planning Area designation sets in motion a two-year planning process to develop an Integrated Development Plan and to transform the Nairobi River and its tributaries into a healthy and functional river.

It will provide a framework for riparian protection and complementary land use, and the development of the corridor, and infrastructure necessary to mitigate river pollution and flood hazards. 

The ministry, under the Nairobi River Commission, has emphasised that it will not take landowners’ land but instead, the development will see the value of the land exponentially rise.

They have also called on the private sector and donors to support the initiative as it will boost tourism with the public spaces to be developed boosting communities while the residents will enjoy a functional sewer system, with the corridor easing movement. 

Turning point 

It is envisaged that 44 foot-bridges will be erected along the corridor, open spaces landscaped and roads improved. 

In the plan, the Nairobi River Corridor will be designated as a Special Planning Area (SPA), a move aimed at catalysing the sustainable transformation of the river and its surroundings. 

According to the county government, the designation of the Nairobi River Corridor as SPA marks a critical turning point in Nairobi’s efforts to address decades of neglect, pollution and unregulated development along its waterways.

“The designation of the Nairobi river corridor as a special planning area is a significant milestone in addressing social and environmental injustices caused by pollution, neglect and unregulated development along the River of Nairobi,” the report says. 

The report highlights how continued uncontrolled developments along the river corridors have long contributed to the devastating impact of flooding and direct contamination of our water resources.

In the long run, this has led to the loss of lives, property destruction and destruction of critical ecosystems that include river basins and water catchment areas. 

These recurring disasters underscore the urgent need for a long-term solution to mitigate extreme weather effects, enhance urban residence, and safeguard Kenya’s natural resources and reinforce ecological and economic stability. 

“Efforts to restore riparian reserves will be ineffective without addressing broader urban planning deficiencies. Properly integrating these areas into urban planning frameworks is necessary for long-term sustainability,” the report adds. 

The declaration, requested by the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development, is expected to usher in a two-year planning process for the creation of a Local Physical Development and Land Use Plan. 

This ambitious initiative will cover the 60m zone along both sides of the river from Naivasha Road to Ruai, encompassing a 30m riparian corridor and an additional 30m development area. 

This initiative will also ensure the protection and rehabilitation of riparian reserves, the construction of social and affordable housing in informal settlements, and the establishment of riverfront parks and green infrastructure such as wetlands to improve water quality. 

The plan also aims to integrate the ongoing Nairobi River Regeneration Programme and offer legal and institutional solutions to gaps in existing environmental and planning legislation. 

According to the report, the SPA notice does not give the right to any evictions or displacements necessary for environmental protection without adequate legal justification, resettlement action plan of affected persons or compensation where necessary, which can only be done with due process and in full compliance with the law. 

“The Special Planning Area Notice is not a notice to demolish existing residential settlements or relocation of residents within the 60m planning Corridor to pave way for the Social and Affordable Housing Programme,” the report says. 

The Nairobi River has long been a casualty of urban struggle, with unregulated development, both formal and informal, encroaching on riparian land.

These developments have exacerbated flooding, caused loss of life and property, and led to the destruction of crucial river ecosystems and water catchment areas.  

Public opinions 

Through empirical data analysis, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), hydrological modelling, and ecological assessments, the SPA will map flood-prone zones and guide development to minimise risk.

The plan also seeks to harmonise conflicting legal frameworks, particularly those affecting water, land, and environmental management. 

After the two-week public comment period ends, the County Executive Committee Member will consider and incorporate feedback into the draft plan.

The Nairobi government has also provided an opportunity for people aggrieved by the planning decisions to appeal through the County Physical and Land Use Planning Liaison Committee and ultimately the Environmental and Land Court. 

Once complete, the draft will be published for further public review and later presented to the County Assembly for approval.

Once approved, it will be gazetted and submitted to the National Land Commission.