Nairobi Rivers Basin Regeneration Programmes (NABREP)
Nairobi Rivers Basin
Regeneration Programme (NABREP)
A Coordinated, Basin-Wide Approach to Restoring Kenya’s Capital Rivers
Once a symbol of life and vitality in Kenya’s capital, the Nairobi River forms part of an extensive river basin fed by major tributaries including the Mathare, Ngong, Gitathuru, Rui Ruaka and Kirichwa Rivers. Stretching over 70 kilometres within the city, the Nairobi River Basin drains an estimated 2,000 hectares and traverses key sub-counties such as Westlands, Starehe, Kamukunji, Kasarani, Embakasi, and parts of Dagoreti and Lang’ata. Historically, this river network functioned as a natural drainage and ecological corridor, supporting biodiversity, peri-urban agriculture and early industrial activity as Nairobi expanded.
Over time, however, rapid urbanisation, weak enforcement of environmental regulations and unplanned development severely degraded the river system. Industrial effluent, untreated domestic sewage from informal settlements, indiscriminate solid waste dumping and widespread encroachment into riparian reserves transformed the rivers into channels of pollution. These pressures compromised water quality, destroyed aquatic ecosystems, increased flooding risks and exposed riverside communities to serious public health hazards.
Lessons from Past Interventions
Previous efforts to rehabilitate the Nairobi River, including earlier phases of the Nairobi River Basin Programme (NRBP), faced persistent challenges. Many initiatives stalled due to inadequate funding, fragmented leadership and lack of coordinated implementation. Clean-up activities such as dredging and tree planting were often reversed by seasonal floods, which washed waste back into the river channels. Encroachment on riparian zones proved difficult to address amid housing shortages and the vulnerability of informal settlement residents. Inadequate sanitation infrastructure in riverine communities meant that pollution continued even after clean-up exercises. Weak enforcement and governance gaps further undermined long-term success.
The Nairobi River Basin Regeneration Programme (NaBREP)
The Nairobi River Basin Regeneration Programme (NaBREP) was established as a comprehensive, intergovernmental and multi-sectoral initiative to reclaim, restore and sustainably manage the Nairobi River corridor and its wider ecosystem over a 5–10 year period. The programme targets approximately 175 kilometres of river length, covering the Nairobi, Ngong and Mathare Rivers, as well as sections of the Stony Athi River, from their upstream sources through Nairobi and downstream to Thwake Dam in Makueni County. The programme’s wider environmental and socio-economic impacts are expected to extend along the Athi River Basin, all the way to the Sabaki River outlet in Malindi, Kilifi County.
Overall coordination of NaBREP is entrusted to the Nairobi Rivers Commission (NRC), a Presidential Executive Commission gazetted in October 25th 2024. The Commission provides strategic leadership, policy coordination and oversight to ensure that interventions across institutions, counties and sectors are aligned, sequenced and sustainably implemented.
Institutional and Stakeholder Framework
NaBREP brings together a wide range of National and County Government institutions alongside Nairobi City County and the County Governments of Kiambu, Machakos, Makueni and Kajiado. The programme is further supported by Non-state and Development Partners such as UNEP, UN-Habitat, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and numerous NGOs and community-based organisations that contribute technical expertise, advisory support and on-the-ground implementation.
Integrated Regeneration Strategies
To ensure long-term and sustainable restoration of the river system, NaBREP adopts an integrated approach that combines infrastructure development, environmental protection and social interventions. Key strategies include:
- Waste Management Reforms: Expansion of solid waste collection systems, particularly in informal settlements, and upgrading of sewage treatment infrastructure to eliminate direct discharge into rivers.
- Riparian Zone Protection: Enforcement of riparian buffer regulations, restoration of riverbanks and management of encroachments, supported by humane relocation and affordable housing solutions where necessary.
- Public Awareness and Community Engagement: Environmental education, community clean-ups and citizen stewardship programmes aimed at building long-term behavioural change and ownership.
The programme comprises multiple interlinked components implemented along the river corridor, including:
- Development of a comprehensive River Regeneration Master Plan;
- Construction of twin trunk sewer lines on both sides of the river to enhance wastewater conveyance;
- River deepening, widening and bank stabilisation works to improve flow capacity and reduce flooding;
- Decentralised wastewater treatment systems and upgrading of the Kariobangi Wastewater Treatment Plant;
- Decontamination of the Dandora Dumpsite and improved solid waste management;
- Development of retail markets, public social amenities and affordable and social housing along the corridor;
- Non-motorised transport (NMT) corridors and associated transport infrastructure;
- Comprehensive urban landscaping and greening of the river corridor.
Youth, Climate Action and Livelihoods
A flagship component of NaBREP is the Climate WorX initiative, under which more than 42,000 young people are engaged in daily clean-up activities, tree planting, river surveillance and environmental maintenance. This initiative combines climate action with job creation and skills development, positioning youth as key actors in environmental restoration.
Projected Benefits
If successfully implemented, NaBREP is expected to deliver far-reaching benefits across social, economic and environmental dimensions.
Social benefits include reduced flooding and erosion, improved urban sanitation, safer living conditions for riverside communities, delivery of approximately 30,000 affordable and social housing units, and training of an estimated 3,000 mid- and senior-level professionals.
Economic benefits include land value appreciation of up to 30% within three years, attraction of new investments along the river corridor, creation of an estimated 25,000 direct and 20,000 indirect jobs, stimulation of local industries through localisation of procurement, and development of new tourism and recreation spaces.
Environmental benefits include improved water quality, restoration of aquatic ecosystems, increased access to clean water, enhanced urban aesthetics, and strengthened climate change mitigation and adaptation capacity.
A New Model for Urban River Restoration
The Nairobi River Basin Regeneration Programme illustrates the complexity of restoring urban river systems in the context of rapid growth and historical underinvestment in infrastructure. While past efforts were constrained by fragmented planning and weak enforcement, the current approach,anchored by the Nairobi Rivers Commission, strengthened legal frameworks such as the Waste Management Act and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and broad-based stakeholder engagement—marks a decisive shift toward coordinated, basin-wide action.
For Nairobi and the counties downstream, NaBREP presents a transformative opportunity to restore environmental integrity, improve quality of life and unlock economic potential. It also offers a scalable model for addressing similar challenges in other urban river systems across Kenya, positioning river regeneration as a national development and climate resilience priority.