Our Background

The Nairobi Rivers Commission (NRC) is anchored in the Constitution of Kenya through the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (No. 8 Of 1999) and the Climate Change Act (No. 11 of 2016) on Environmental protection. The first Commission was established through a Gazette Notice Number 14891 on December 2nd, 2022 to reclaim the Rivers of Nairobi as a spine to the City's blue and green infrastructure for a better urban Environment and quality of life. To achieve this, the commission has established a Joint Multi Agency Coordination Centre (JMACC) at the HQS offices at south C to be coordination centre for all operations and activities related to the river basin pollution and regeneration activities. Satellite centres will be established at the Nairobi rivers basin which have been zoned into 18 Zones for ease of monitoring and coordination of all activities along the River Basin.

Appointment Of The Commissioners Under Gazette Notice No. 14891

Vide a Gazette Notice No. 14891 of the Kenya Gazette, the President and the Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, H.E Dr. William Samoei Ruto, exercising the powers conferred on him by the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Kenya established the Nairobi Rivers Commission on 2nd December 2022.

The Commission comprised of nine Commissioners headed by a chairperson. The first Chair person was Dr Pamela Olet while the Chief Executive officer is.  Other commissioners were Prof. Elijah Biama, Dr. Duncan Ojwang, Arch. Mumo Musuva, Comm. Eva Muhia, Comm. Grace Mesopirr, Comm. Elizabeth Wathuti, Comm. Carlotta Dal Lago. The Commission has established a secretariat for the day to day running of the commission. The secretariat is drawn from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) including the counties either on deployment or secondment. The president also appointed a Chief Executive Officer to coordinate the implementation of the river regeneration programs. The First  CEO was Brigadier (later retired) Joseph Maina Muracia who is still the current Chief Executive Officer. The jurisdiction of the commission covers the counties of Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos and Makueni.

Establishment of the commission under gazette notice no 13907 and subsequent Notices.

The current NRC was established through Gazette Notice No. 13907 of 25th October, 2024 which revoked Gazette Notice no 14891 of 2nd Dec 2022. The new commission has 13 appointed members of the commission as shown below.

Hon. Bishop Margaret Wanjiru (Chairperson), Arch. Mumo Musuva, Arch. Dadu Karisa, John Kioli, Josephat Sagero, Benjamin Langwen, Eva Waithira Muhia, Grace Mesopirr Senewa, Anab Gure, Carlotta Dal Lago, Rael Chebichii Lelei, Amos Chege Mugo and Dr. Loice Jepkemboi Kipkiror.

The Secretariat staff currently has 36 officers who are deployed from other Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies and Nairobi City County Government to assist in the day to day running of the commission.

Mandate Of The Commission

The mandate of the Commission as Per the Gazette Notice is as summarized below;

1. Reclaim the rivers of Nairobi as a spine to the city’s blue and green infrastructure for a better urban environment and quality of life.
2. Examine previous reports and recommendations made in the efforts of reclaiming Nairobi River and adopt lessons learnt in the new initiative. In particular reference to Nairobi River Basin Project (UNEP, 2000); Adopt-A-River Initiative (UNEP and Rotary Clubs, 2019-ongoing), Nairobi River Regeneration Initiative (UN-Habitat and GoK, 2020-ongoing); and Urban Rivers Regeneration Programme (NEMA, 2019-2024).
3. Undertake an assessment of the rivers related to the current and future issues and their root causes and develop a programme called the Nairobi Rivers Basin Regeneration Programme (NABREP) to restore and enhance the Nairobi Basin and related infrastructure to such standards as permits the full enjoyment of a safe, inclusive and healthy environment for all and unlock the socio-economic potential of the Basin.
4. Co-ordinate the activities of various players mandated to engage in the rehabilitation, protection, restoration, beautification and sustainable development of the riverine basin within Nairobi City County towards transforming the Nairobi rivers system into a new economic and retail frontier of the city.
5. Monitor compliance with the laws and regulations governing the environment of the Basin and its catchment areas in collaboration with the departments, agencies and/or ministries of the County Government of Nairobi and the National Government and propose institutional and regulatory modifications where necessary.
6. Develop codes of conduct and propose modalities for enforcement in partnership with the relevant stakeholders.
7. Spearhead resource mobilization for the development and management of the Nairobi Rivers.
8. Pursuant to paragraph (g), develop, adopt and execute a Trust Fund or other instrument to structure strategic partnerships and receive financial resources from within or outside Kenya to finance the implementation of programmes and projects, for which the Commission shall fully be accountable for proper and prudent management and for whose loss it shall be liable.
9. Promote public awareness on sustainable protection of the Nairobi Rivers basin and enhance public participation in its restoration;
10. Perform such other functions as may be necessary and incidental to the realization of the objectives a forenamed.

Stake Holders

The Ministries, Departments and Agencies and County governments who work with the NRC are but not limited to the following.

1. The State Department for Housing and Urban Development.
2. The State Department for Environment and Climate Change.
3. The State Department for Water and Sanitation.
4. The State Department for Internal Security and National Administration.
5. The State Department for Lands and Physical Planning.
6. The National Treasury.
7. The Executive Office of the President.
8. The County Government of Nairobi.
9. The Ministry of Defense. 
10. Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company
11. The Judiciary of Kenya. 
12. National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)
13. The National Youth Service (NYS)
14. National Land Commission, (NLC)
15. The Kenya Forest Services (KFS)
16. Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI)
17. National Museums of Kenya,
18. Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA)
19. Kenya Urban Roads Authority, (KURA)
20.  Athi Water Works Development Authority (AWWDA)
21. Tana and Athi River Development Authority (TARDA)
22. Water Resources Authority (WRA)
23. The County Governments of Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos and Makueni
24. Relevant professional organizations and academia;
25. Civil Society Organizations.
26. Riverine Communities.

Advisory Group

The commission is also Mandated to establish an Advisory group consisting of the following;

1. UN-Habitat
2. United Nation Environment Program (UNEP). 
3. Kenya Private Sector Alliance(KEPSA)
4. World Resources Institute (WRI) and
5. The Nairobi County, Kiambu County, Kajiado County, Machakos County and Makueni County
6. Other development partners and private sector Organizations.