Environment CS Aden Duale has vowed to deal firmly with any industry or individuals polluting the Nairobi River.
“The county government of Nairobi, industries and individuals must take responsibility,” he said.
His ministry will not allow further pollution of the Nairobi River basin and the once Green City Under the Sun must regain its lost glory.
The fact that Nairobi hosts the United Nations Environment Programme headquarters is enough reason to deal decisively with polluters.
“I will sit with the National Environment Management Authority before the end of this week and come up with two different colour-coded bins for waste management. All public service vehicles must have waste bins,” Duale said, adding that he will pick up from where the late former Environment minister John Michuki left.
“I’m ready to take the lead,” he said. The CS spoke on Tuesday during the launch of the 2023 KCB Group Sustainability Report.
At the KenCom House event, Duale, accompanied by Environment and Climate Change PS Festus Ng’eno, announced that one color-coded bin will be designated for organic waste and another for other types of waste.
He criticized the lack of implementation of existing environmental protection laws, some of which were introduced during his tenure as Majority Leader of the National Assembly.
Duale vowed to take action against those polluting the Nairobi River, describing the situation as dire and calling on the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to address all forms of pollution. NEMA has cited dysfunctional sewer systems and illegal dumpsites as major issues affecting the Nairobi River basin.
Director General Mamo Mamo recently informed the Star that NEMA has identified four key discharge points—City Park, Kenyatta National Hospital, Kirichwa Kubwa, and Mathare River—that are to be addressed within the next 24 hours.
The Nairobi Water Company was to do the work. “If they are not going to fix them, then we will take appropriate enforcement actions like arresting and arraigning them in a court of law.”
Mamo pledged to audit all damaged sewers and announced a restoration order to identify all discharge points. The Nairobi River Commission is collaborating with various government agencies and the county governments of Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos, and Makueni to clean the heavily polluted river.
The commission’s mandate covers ten thematic areas: catchment reclamation and protection, riparian reclamation and beautification, reduction of waste (solid, industrial, institutional waste, and sewerage), community engagement, and drainage and hydrology.
NRC is also working with the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Athi Water Works Development Agency, and the Nairobi City County government to expand the sewer network and reduce sewage disposal into rivers.
The commission has engaged NGOs and other stakeholders who have been working along the rivers. To address the challenges of solid waste, sewerage, and industrial waste, NRC estimates a need of approximately Sh22 billion. This includes developing necessary infrastructure and protecting catchments and riparian areas.
The funding required includes:
– Over Sh900 million for solid waste management in Nairobi
– Sh486 million for Kiambu
– Sh516 million for Kajiado
– Sh647 million for Machakos
– Sh433 million for Makueni
For sewerage management, the estimates are:
– Sh964 million for Nairobi
– Sh2 billion for Kiambu
– Sh725 million for Kajiado
– Sh304 million for Machakos
– Sh450 million for Makueni
Additional needs include:
– Geo-spatial riparian mapping: Sh62 million
– Drainage and hydrology: Sh3 billion
– Catchment protection and restoration: Sh9 billion
– Industrial and institutional waste management: Sh11 million
– Community engagement and communication: Sh30 million
– Employment of at least 1,000 youth: Sh45 million
– Multi-agency operations centre: Sh20 million
– Situational analysis by multi-agency or stakeholders: Sh30 million
